WATERTOWN — Fort Drum will grow, adding nearly 1,500 more personnel with the placement of an Army multi-domain task force, according to an announcement from Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Wednesday.
Schumer, D- N.Y., announced that Fort Drum was selected to host the U.S. Army Multi-Domain Task Force 2, which will also have a detachment posted in Wiesbaden, Germany.
“Fort Drum has been selected for one of the most prestigious designations by the Army, meaning nearly 1,500 new soldiers and personnel will soon call the north country home, which will enhance this amazing base as a pillar within America’s national defense strategy,” he said.
The announcement came shortly after a meeting between Schumer and the Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth in Washington.
Multi-domain task forces are dedicated to operations in the air, on land, at sea, in space, the cyberwarfare front and in intelligence collection, meant to synchronize efforts across each “domain” or front.
The Army has built five task forces, three focused on the Pacific region, one focused on Europe and one for global response, according to Schumer. MDTF 2 was established solely in Germany in 2021 and is focused on Europe. Soldiers in the force are expected to begin rotating between Germany and Fort Drum starting in 2025. The MDTF operates under the command of Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, head of the U.S. European Command.
In a press release announcing the placement, Schumer pointed out the many reasons he said Fort Drum is the perfect U.S. base to host the Europe-focused task force. The base has Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield which facilitates easy air travel to Europe, and about 500 10th Mountain Division soldiers from Fort Drum are currently deployed to Europe, so the post has ongoing connections with the continent.
He also said the cold winters of the north country provide excellent training for the cold winters in parts of Europe.
“I personally advocated to Army Secretary Wormuth to elevate Fort Drum as the clear choice, and the Army could not have picked a better place than the north country to lead the mission in protecting our national security,” Schumer said. ” Fort Drum is woven into the very fabric of the north country, and there is no community more eager and able to support the Army in furthering America’s national defense strategy.”
___
(c)2023 Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.)
Visit Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.) at www.watertowndailytimes.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Story Continues
© Copyright 2023 Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
