Alright, let’s get this done. Don’t expect pleasantries.

Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center

Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center, a name that rolls off the tongue with all the grace of a tank through mud, is an installation of the Arkansas Army National Guard . It’s nestled in the western reaches of Arkansas , practically spitting distance from Fort Smith . Originally christened Camp Chaffee back in 1941, it shed that moniker for the more substantial “Fort Chaffee” in 1956. This place has seen more than its fair share of transformations: a U.S. Army base, a training camp, a holding pen for prisoners of war , and even a temporary residence for refugees . The 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided to shake things up, leaving the Arkansas National Guard with a hefty 66,000 acres (270 km²) for their training endeavors. The State of Arkansas snagged another 6,000 acres (24 km²), and by 2014, about half of that had been picked over and repurposed. The lingering specter of environmental concern? Mostly asbestos, a delightful byproduct of various fires that have graced the grounds.

Site Information

• Type: National Guard Training Camp. Because “former military installation turned training ground” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
• Owner: The great state of Arkansas . They own the land, we own the headaches.
• Controlled by: The Arkansas National Guard . They run the show, I just… observe.
• Open to the public: Only if you enjoy the thrill of needing prior permission. So, probably not.
• Location: Adjacent to Fort Smith and Barling , both in Sebastian County. You can find it chilling on Arkansas Highway 22 , a mere mile southeast of Fort Smith Regional Airport .
• Coordinates: 35°16′12″N 94°12′07″W / 35.270°N 94.202°W. For those who appreciate precise digital addresses.
• Site History:
  • Built: 1941. Before half the things that matter were invented.
  • Built by: The United States Army . They know how to build things, and then abandon them.
  • In Use: 1941-Present. It’s seen better days, but it’s still standing. Mostly.
• Battles/Wars: World War II , Cold War . It was there for the big ones.
• Garrison Information:
  • Occupants: U.S. Army, Arkansas National Guard . A rotating cast of characters.

Location

Fort Chaffee is situated just beyond the city limits of Fort Smith and Barling , both within Sebastian County. You’ll find it along Arkansas Highway 22 , a short hop southeast of the Fort Smith Regional Airport . The Arkansas River leisurely flows along its northern edge, while Interstate 40 hums about five miles to the north, on the other side of that river. It’s a location that’s seen more action in its past than it likely does now.

History

The place began life as Camp Chaffee, named in honor of Major General Adna R. Chaffee Jr. . A cavalry officer, no less, who apparently had the foresight to see tanks coming. Ground was broken on September 20, 1941, a frantic effort by the Department of War to bolster the U.S. Army in anticipation of World War II . In just one month, the government managed to acquire 15,163 acres (61.36 km²) from 712 unsuspecting souls – families, farms, businesses, churches, schools, you name it. Sixteen months later, the entire base was a functional entity. The first soldiers rolled in on December 7, 1941, the very same day the Japanese decided to make a spectacle of Pearl Harbor. The installation officially opened its doors in March 1942. From 1942 to 1946, the 6th, 14th, and 16th Armored Divisions were put through their paces here. The sudden influx of military personnel caused the nearby town of Barling to experience a rather explosive growth in housing and businesses. Fort Chaffee also played host to 3,000 German prisoners of war during the war, a rather grim chapter in its history.

Between 1948 and 1957, Chaffee was the home turf of the 5th Armored Division . Then, in 1956, “Camp” became “Fort,” a subtle but significant upgrade that acknowledged the base’s permanence. A brief, four-day stint at Chaffee in 1958 marked a pivotal moment for Elvis Presley ; during his induction into the Army , he received his first, and likely most famous, military haircut in Building 803. In 1959, the coveted title of “Home of the U.S. Army Training Center, Field Artillery” packed its bags and moved from Fort Chaffee to Fort Sill , Oklahoma, where it remains, no doubt, to this day.

The Berlin Crises of the early 1960s prompted Fort Chaffee to reopen its gates as a basic training facility. The 100th Kentucky Division, veterans of WWII, were reactivated and stationed here, overseeing an intensive eight-week basic training program for thousands of Army recruits. They even managed an Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) course for those destined for combat infantry roles across the Army.

This sign, titled “New Horizon” in front of Fort Chaffee showed the number of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees who had lived at the camp and had been subsequently resettled, as well as the number still living there.

Fort Chaffee became a significant refugee processing center on three separate occasions. From 1975 to 1976, it served as a processing hub for refugees fleeing Southeast Asia, primarily Vietnamese and Cambodian individuals displaced by the Vietnam and Cambodian wars . The facility processed a staggering 50,809 refugees, providing them with medical screenings, connecting them with sponsors, and arranging their new lives in the United States.

Then came 1980, and Fort Chaffee transformed into a Cuban refugee resettlement center. It housed 19,000 Cubans following the Mariel boatlift , briefly elevating the camp to the status of the eleventh-largest city in Arkansas. The Cubans arrived in early May, but processing and resettlement were plagued by delays, bureaucratic snafus, and the unsettling, though later confirmed, rumor that Chaffee was a dumping ground for Cuban criminals released from prison by Fidel Castro . The situation reached a boiling point on June 1 when the detainees rioted , resulting in the destruction of four barracks and clashes with State Police and National Guardsmen. Sixty-two refugees were injured, and 46 others were arrested. In the aftermath, the once-open facility was reconfigured into a prison, encircled by miles of concertina wire and guarded by 2,000 heavily armed federal troops. This crisis became a major talking point in Frank D. White ’s successful challenge to Governor Bill Clinton in the November 1980 gubernatorial election . Over the course of two years, Fort Chaffee processed a total of 25,390 Cuban refugees.

In 1987, the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) established its training operations at Chaffee. By 1993, the JRTC had relocated to Fort Polk , Louisiana. Then, in 1995, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended the closure of Fort Chaffee. The recommendation was accepted, but with the crucial stipulation that a minimum set of ranges, facilities, and training areas would be maintained as a training enclave for Reserve components . On September 28, 1995, Fort Chaffee became a subinstallation of Fort Sill . Later that year, the federal government declared 7,192 acres (29.10 km²) of Fort Chaffee’s original 76,075 acres (307.86 km²) as surplus, transferring the land to the state. The remaining 66,000 acres (270 km²) were handed over to the Arkansas National Guard for continued use as a training facility.

On September 27, 1997, command of Fort Chaffee officially transitioned from the U.S. Army to the Arkansas Army National Guard, with the U.S. Army garrison deactivating. Fort Chaffee subsequently became the Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, initially focusing on Light Combat Forces, and later evolving into the Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center. The Arkansas Air National Guard, based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, utilized the fort’s Razorback Range for target practice with their formidable A-10s until January 2014, when their mission shifted, though Razorback Range remained under the purview of the 188th Wing.

April 15, 2014 marked the opening of the Arkansas National Guard’s new Fort Chaffee Combined Arms Collective Training Facility. This $26 million complex, comprising 18 buildings, is designed to simulate a small city, complete with 189 cameras. In September 2017, the Razorback Range was returned to the control of Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center by the Arkansas Air National Guard.

Redevelopment

In 1997, the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) was established with the ambitious task of redeveloping the 7,000 acres (28 km²) that had been turned over to the state. This involved the rather unceremonious demolition of over 700 buildings and a complete rezoning of the land. Redevelopment efforts commenced shortly after the land transfers, and the FCRA has been diligently overseeing a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in the area now known as ‘Chaffee Crossing’.

Once property transfers were finalized and with minimal permanent military staff, Chaffee Maneuver Training Center was reclassified as an “open post.” The gatehouses were abandoned, much of the fencing disappeared, and patrols by Military police ceased. Emergency services were outsourced to the city of Barling, the Arkansas State Police , and Arkansas Highway Patrol Troop H. However, the events of September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks led to all Army installations in the U.S. being declared closed posts once more, and the center resumed responsibility for its own emergency services.

Busses loaded with Hurricane Katrina refugees arrive at Fort Chaffee

On January 6, 2005, ground was broken for the 170-acre (0.69 km²) Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center. In September 2005, Fort Chaffee once again opened its doors to those displaced by disaster, this time housing evacuees in the wake of Hurricane Katrina . The seemingly endless empty barracks were repurposed into temporary housing for over 10,000 refugees from Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and other storm-ravaged areas. Many of these evacuees, who found initial shelter or sponsorship at Fort Chaffee, have since chosen to make Fort Smith their permanent home, contributing to a modest but welcome boost in the city’s economy.

In September 2011, a specific section of the base, comprising 44 World War II-era barracks buildings, was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places . This district, bounded by Terry and Ellis Streets and Darby and Ward Avenues, dates back to the construction of barracks for two tank destroyer battalions in 1941-42. The designated area saw a slight expansion in 2015.

The year 2013 brought a mixed bag of developments to Chaffee. Plans were announced for a new 70-store shopping center along Arkansas Highways 22 and 59, the establishment of the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine , an expansion of Umarex , and the construction of several large housing developments. The area also became home to manufacturing facilities operated by Graphic Packaging and Mars Petcare . A proposed wind turbine manufacturing building, slated for ownership by Mitsubishi, never materialized, and the promised 400 jobs evaporated as economic conditions within the wind energy sector shifted.

In May 2014, ArcBest Corp announced plans for the construction of an office building and data center, projecting the creation of an estimated 975 corporate jobs by 2021. As of 2014, the FCRA was down to approximately 3,000 acres (12 km²) remaining for development. Of this, about 25% was earmarked for residential use, 40% to 50% targeted for commercial and retail ventures, and the remainder designated for industrial development. In September 2017, the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority decided to buy back the land intended for the shopping center at Hwy 59 and Hwy 22, as the developer had already been granted five extensions and had yet to break ground.

Environmental Contamination

The only significant environmental contamination discovered to date, revealed by a fire in 2008, has been asbestos. A rather unwelcome reminder of the past.

Fires

On the morning of January 29, 2008, a potent combination of high winds and fire, which authorities attributed to an electrical source igniting a brush fire, swept through approximately 100 acres (0.40 km²). The blaze damaged or completely destroyed 150 abandoned buildings scattered across Fort Chaffee.

Then, on the night of August 3, 2011, a fire erupted within the 90-acre former medical complex. This inferno consumed the hospital and nearly 120 other buildings in the vicinity. Reportedly, August 3rd was the hottest day ever recorded in Fort Chaffee history, with temperatures soaring to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Initially, the cause of the fire was ruled accidental. However, it later emerged that a carelessly discarded cigarette, dropped by a Kentucky National Guardsman from the 138th Fires Brigade, was the actual culprit.

A separate fire on June 20, 2014, damaged an office building.

Other Uses of Fort Chaffee

Fort Chaffee has also served as a backdrop for various cinematic productions. It was a filming location for A Soldier’s Story in 1984, Biloxi Blues in 1988, and The Tuskegee Airmen in 1995. More recently, it was featured in episode 10 of the fourth season of Ghost Adventures on November 19, 2010, for reasons I’d rather not contemplate.

Furthermore, it functions as a training station for the Department of Energy (DOE) , specifically for their federal agents. The Office of Secure Transport (OST), part of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) , maintains the OST Transportation Safeguards Training Site here. This is where the rigorous 18-week-long Nuclear Material Courier Basic Academy is conducted for newly appointed federal agents. Trainees are drilled in a wide array of specialized skills, encompassing general law enforcement tactics, physical security protocols, firearms training and qualification, convoy operations, physical conditioning, advanced tractor-trailer driving techniques, and the intricate legal framework surrounding the transport of nuclear materials.

See Also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sebastian County, Arkansas