Fort Benning, Georgia, has trained generations of infantrymen, paratroopers, Rangers, and armored Soldiers. Its history links the expansion of the Army during World War I with the development of airborne forces and the modern maneuver training mission.
Camp Benning and the Infantry School
Established as Camp Benning in 1918, the installation became closely associated with infantry instruction and experimentation. Its training areas and school organizations supported the development of tactics, leadership, weapons employment, and the practical skills required by Soldiers and small-unit leaders.
The Parachute Test Platoon
In 1940, a parachute test platoon drawn from the 29th Infantry helped demonstrate that Soldiers could deploy from aircraft and fight after landing. Its experimental jumps at Fort Benning were a formative step in the creation of American parachute infantry.
The training establishment expanded as airborne units were organized for World War II. Fort Benning's connection to parachuting continued through the postwar Army and remains central to its identity as the home of the Basic Airborne Course.
Airborne, Ranger, and Maneuver Training
Today, Fort Benning houses the Maneuver Center of Excellence, including the Infantry and Armor schools. Airborne and Ranger training are important parts of this wider schoolhouse mission. A training qualification and assignment to an operational unit are separate things: graduating Ranger School, for example, is not the same as serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Names Across the Eras
The installation was renamed Fort Moore in 2023 in honor of Hal and Julia Moore. In March 2025, the Army received a directive restoring Fort Benning, honoring CPL Fred G. Benning, a World War I Distinguished Service Cross recipient. The restored name commemorates a different Soldier from the post's original namesake.
AAC's Fort Benning collection reflects the training experiences and unit traditions associated with the installation, rather than treating every school or tenant as one organization.
Historical Sources
- Fort Benning — about the installation. U.S. Army Garrison Fort Benning. Installation context and the Infantry and Armor schoolhouse mission.
- 1-507 history. U.S. Army, Fort Benning. The 1940 test platoon and development of airborne training.
- The jump that changed U.S. warfare history. U.S. Army, 2025. The test-platoon legacy and continuing airborne training.
- Fort Moore restored to Fort Benning in honor of a WWI Soldier. U.S. Army / Department of Defense, March 2025. The Moore naming period and the Fred G. Benning namesake.
Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer designs celebrating Fort Benning and its infantry, airborne, and maneuver training heritage.
