Fort Cavazos

Fort Cavazos
Killeen, Texas
Shoulder sleeve insignia of major Ft. Cavazos units
Coordinates31°08′23″N 97°45′57″W / 31.13972°N 97.76583°W / 31.13972; -97.76583
TypeArmy post
Area332.05 sq mi (860 sq km)
Site information
OwnerDepartment of the Army
Controlled byUnited States Army
StatusActive
WebsiteOfficial website
Site history
Built1942
In use1942–present
Garrison information
Current
commander
LTG Kevin Admiral
GarrisonIII Armored Corps
First Army Division West

1st Cavalry Division
36th Engineer Brigade
13th Sustainment Command
3rd Cavalry Regiment
504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade
89th Military Police Brigade
1st Medical Brigade
Operational Test Command
407th Army Field Support Brigade
48th Chemical Brigade
69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade
11th Signal Brigade
3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade

Fort Cavazos is a United States Army post located near Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, a native Texan and the US Army’s first Hispanic four-star general. Formerly named Fort Hood for Confederate General John Bell Hood, the post is located halfway between Austin and Waco, about 60 mi (97 km) from each, within the U.S. state of Texas. The post is the headquarters of III Armored Corps and First Army Division West and is home to the 1st Cavalry Division and 3rd Cavalry Regiment, among others.

Its origin was the need for wide-open space to test and train with World War II tank destroyers. The War Department announced the location in January 1942, and the initial completion was set for that August. As originally constructed, Fort Cavazos had an area of 158,706 acres (64,226 ha), with billeting for 6,007 officers and 82,610 enlisted personnel. The main cantonment of Fort Cavazos had a total population of 53,416 as of the 2010 U.S. Census. Fort Cavazos was the most populous U.S. military installation in the world.[1] The main business area is in Bell County, with the training countryside area of the post in Coryell County. In April 2014, the base's website listed 45,414 assigned soldiers and 8,900 civilian employees covering an area of 214,000 acres (87,000 ha).

  1. ^ James Ragland (6 December 2009). "Tested by tragedy, Fort Hood family of civilians and soldiers deserve Texan of the Year honor". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
    "Bangor native to head leadership group". Bangor Daily News. 10 April 1985. Retrieved 4 May 2013.