As the Iran war enters its third month, the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg has been in the news as more soldiers from the division are deployed to the Middle East.

The roughly 1,500 soldiers sent from the division may have captured headlines, but these deployments are part of the rhythm of life for Fort Bragg and the support network for the military  in Fayetteville. Former service members and volunteers told CityView that deployments are far less disruptive for families and Fayetteville than they were in years past.

“Every community that I have been associated with while I was on active duty has supportive family members, supportive community, supportive organizations,” said Robert S. Patton Jr. “I will say—personal opinion—(Fayetteville has) a better support network than most communities outside of installations because we do it so much, and we do it better than anybody else, period.”

Patton retired six years ago as a colonel after more than two decades in the Army—13 of them at Fort Bragg. Now, he serves as the chair of the Military Affairs Council and executive vice president of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation, a position that puts him in close touch with the network of organizations that support deployed families and troops alike.

Spokespeople for the XVIII Airborne Corps, which includes the 82nd Airborne Division, and U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, which activated at Fort Bragg in December, declined to provide the number of troops currently deployed to the Middle East. But both said that deployments are a regular part of life at Fort Bragg. 

“Soldiers based here routinely support joint and multinational exercises, humanitarian assistance planning, and crisis-response missions that enhance regional and international stability,” said Paul Boyce in a statement to CityView. Boyce is with the office of the chief of public affairs for Western Hemisphere Command.

“We recognize that sustained operational tempos have a direct impact on the Fayetteville–Fort Bragg community,” Boyce continued. “Deployments affect not only soldiers, but also families, local employers, schools, and civic institutions. In cooperation with the post’s Army leadership, Fort Bragg works closely with community partners to ensure support networks remain strong, responsive, and accessible.”

How Fayetteville Supports Soldiers, Families

Community partners include organizations like the Family Readiness Groups—an organization associated with each Army command—along with the Armed Forces YMCA, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other nonprofit groups.

“It’s really important to have a support system that unfortunately my family didn’t have back in the day,” said Samantha Angarita, a volunteer and member with Blue Star. “That’s why now that I have a little bit more time I’m trying to incorporate myself in these kinds of events and activities—especially with Blue Star Families.”

Angarita’s husband served 20 years, retiring as a non-commissioned officer about a decade ago. His five deployments brought unique challenges, she said. 

“Some went like really smooth and some were not as easy and good as you could wish,” Angarita said. 

She found support from the chaplain, but said now there are many more resources for military families. Technology has improved too, making video calls and finding support resources easier.

Some organizations, like the YMCA and VFW, largely focus on supporting younger enlisted soldiers—although both organizations stress that they support any troops that need help.

Jeremy Hester, executive director of the Armed Services YMCA at Fort Bragg, said his organization does everything from run a food pantry to provide packages of basic necessities to soldiers in barracks returning from deployment or displaced for other reasons.The group even has a volunteer effort to quilt photo blankets for the children of deployed service members.

“We’re seeing an uptake in that right now as we have units that are deploying,” he said. “We have units waiting to deploy, then we have units that are set to deploy, then they put them on hold, and then they’re gonna go, then we don’t know if they’re going.”

Mike Baker, commander of VFW Post 670 in Fayetteville, said each local VFW post has a particular unit it adopted. They work with the unit commander to organize whatever troops may need. Many of the VFW posts also partner with other nonprofits to help send care packages to soldiers overseas. 

There’s been an increase in requests for assistance since the conflict in Iran began, Baker said. But organizations like the VFW are prepared to help—more so, he said, than when he served in the Marines from 2000 to 2008.

“They get a lot more support,” he said of service members deploying today. “We try to support them the best we can, especially when they’re coming home…welcome home parties and stuff.”

Patton with the economic development council said there is another important difference in the current deployments to those of the first Gulf War—deployments now are generally for fixed periods of time. The number of deployments has increased in recent decades, but the timing and length of deployment is more consistent. 

Rather than leaving to live with family elsewhere for an indefinite wait, Fort Bragg families are more likely to stay in Fayetteville now, he said. That reduces the economic impact of deployments on the local economy. And it’s given the community a lot of practice in deployments.

“This town really does it right when it comes to supporting the family members,” he said. “That’s always a relief when you know that your family is taken care of.”