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Fort Riley

Fort Riley is a United States Army installation situated in the Flint Hills region of northeastern Kansas, at the junction of the Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers. Established in 1853 and named in honor of Major General Bennett C. Riley, who led the first military escort along the Santa Fe Trail in 1829, it functions as the home of the 1st Infantry Division, known as the "Big Red One," the oldest continuously active division in the U.S. Army. Spanning 101,733 acres, with the majority dedicated to training, Fort Riley supports over 67,000 personnel, including active-duty soldiers, family members, civilians, and retirees, while providing premier facilities for warfighter preparation and community services.^[1]^[2] Originally founded to safeguard settlers and traders on the Oregon-California and Santa Fe Trails during westward expansion, Fort Riley played pivotal roles in key American conflicts, including confining Confederate prisoners during the Civil War and serving as a cavalry training base post-war. It hosted units such as the 7th Cavalry under George Armstrong Custer and the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments, comprising the Buffalo Soldiers, and endured challenges like a 1855 cholera epidemic that claimed numerous lives. The post expanded significantly during the World Wars, with Camp Funston training over 125,000 soldiers, and has since supported deployments of the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan, solidifying its status as the Army's oldest continuously serving FORSCOM installation.^[2] Today, Fort Riley emphasizes advanced training across 150 square miles of terrain equipped with modern aids, fostering operational readiness for the 1st Infantry Division while maintaining historical sites like the Main Post district's limestone structures and museums preserving its legacy from frontier outpost to contemporary power-projection hub.^[1]^[2]

Establishment and Early Years

Founding and Initial Construction

Fort Riley was established in the Kansas Territory during the spring of 1853 at the confluence of the Smoky Hill and Republican Rivers, initially designated as Camp Center to provide protection for settlers traveling westward along the Oregon, Santa Fe, and California Trails amid tensions with Native American tribes.^[2] Three companies of the 6th U.S. Infantry Regiment, under the command of Major Thomas T. Fauntleroy, arrived in late spring and commenced construction of temporary quarters using available materials, marking the site's initial military occupation.^[3] On June 27, 1853, the camp was officially renamed Fort Riley in honor of Major General Bennett C. Riley, a veteran officer who had commanded the first military escort along the Santa Fe Trail in 1829 and died earlier that year.^[2] ^[4] Initial construction focused on basic infrastructure to support garrison operations, with soldiers erecting log and frame structures for barracks, officers' quarters, and storage amid the frontier environment.^[2] Permanent facilities, including a two-story hospital and limestone buildings quarried from local sources, began development in the summer of 1855 as the post expanded to accommodate a more stable military presence.^[5] These early efforts established Fort Riley as a key frontier outpost, facilitating U.S. Army control over the region during the lead-up to Kansas statehood and the associated conflicts.^[6] By the late 1850s, the fort featured a parade ground, guardhouse, and additional quarters, reflecting the Army's commitment to securing the expanding western territories.^[7]

Role in Bleeding Kansas and Civil War

Fort Riley, established on June 27, 1853, by three companies of the 6th U.S. Infantry, played a crucial role in policing the escalating tensions of Kansas Territory during the 1850s.^[2] As pro-slavery and free-state factions clashed in what became known as Bleeding Kansas from 1854 onward, the U.S. Army, including troops from Fort Riley, was deployed to maintain order among settlers and protect vital emigrant trails such as the Santa Fe Trail.^[2] The fort's strategic location facilitated the escort of mail trains starting in spring 1854 and supported efforts to curb violence between rival settler groups.^[2] In July 1855, the first territorial legislature of Kansas convened at nearby Pawnee, adjacent to the fort's Camp Whitside area, amid debates over slavery that underscored the region's volatility.^[2] The arrival of the 2nd Dragoons in October 1855 bolstered the garrison, though a cholera outbreak that summer claimed 70 lives, including Captain Edmund Ogden.^[2] Notable officers stationed at Fort Riley during this period included future Confederate generals J.E.B. Stuart and Lewis A. Armistead, as well as Union loyalist Philip St. George Cooke, reflecting the divided allegiances that would soon fracture the nation.^[8] The post avoided direct entanglement in border warfare hostilities but housed slaveholders among its personnel, including the post surgeon and chaplain.^[8] With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, regular U.S. Army units departed Fort Riley for eastern theaters, leaving the installation garrisoned by Kansas state militia and volunteer forces.^[2] ^[8] The fort served as a base for protecting western migration, guarding travelers on emigrant trails, and securing railroad workers against guerrilla threats, though major Confederate incursions remained limited in Kansas.^[8] Early in the war, it confined Confederate prisoners, including 133 Texans captured during New Mexico campaigns in early 1862, seven of whom died and were buried locally; additional prisoners from Council Grove raids arrived in May 1863.^[8] Under Captain Daniel S. Whittenhall's command, the facility provided humane treatment to captives, drawing criticism from local pro-Union newspapers for perceived leniency.^[8]

Frontier and Cavalry Era

Post-Civil War Operations

Following the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, Fort Riley reestablished its prominence as a hub for frontier military operations, primarily tasked with protecting railroad construction crews advancing the Union Pacific Railroad eastward from the Missouri River and the Kansas Pacific Railway westward from the fort itself.^[2] Troops from the post conducted patrols and escorts to deter raids by Native American tribes on workers and supply lines, reflecting the U.S. Army's shift toward securing expanding transportation infrastructure essential for westward settlement and economic integration.^[2] On July 28, 1866, the 7th Cavalry Regiment was constituted in the Regular Army at Fort Riley, with organization completed by September 21 of that year, bolstering the post's capacity for mobile frontier enforcement.^[2] The fort functioned as a key staging area for these mounted units, which numbered around 1,000 troopers initially, enabling rapid deployment for scouting and combat operations across the central plains.^[2] By 1867, as rail lines reached Fort Riley, operations intensified with campaigns against hostile tribes in western Kansas and eastern Colorado, aimed at suppressing threats to emigrants and rail progress; these efforts involved skirmishes that resulted in dozens of Army casualties and the displacement of several Cheyenne and Sioux bands from key hunting grounds.^[2] Various regiments, including elements of the 5th, 6th, and 16th Infantry, rotated through the post to support these duties, maintaining a garrison strength that fluctuated between 500 and 1,500 personnel amid ongoing supply challenges from disease and desertions.^[2]

Buffalo Soldiers and Frontier Conflicts

The 9th and 10th United States Cavalry Regiments, composed of African American enlisted men and known collectively as the Buffalo Soldiers, were stationed at Fort Riley during the post-Civil War frontier period.^[2] These units, authorized by Congress on July 28, 1866, as part of the Army's expansion to 45 infantry and 5 cavalry regiments, filled roles in policing the expanding western territories, protecting settlers, and combating Native American resistance. The 10th Cavalry specifically arrived in Kansas in 1867, with elements garrisoned at Fort Riley by 1868, conducting patrols amid ongoing conflicts with Plains tribes.^[9] Buffalo Soldiers from Fort Riley participated in numerous skirmishes and campaigns during the Indian Wars, including pursuits of Cheyenne and Kiowa raiders who threatened overland routes and settlements in Kansas and Indian Territory.^[10] In 1868, Troop H of the 10th Cavalry, operating from nearby posts but coordinated through regional commands like Fort Riley, engaged in operations following the Battle of Washita, scouting and securing the southern Plains.^[11] Their duties encompassed escorting stagecoaches along the Smoky Hill Road, mapping water sources, and constructing telegraph lines, all while facing hostile encounters that tested their discipline and marksmanship.^[12] The regiments earned the "Buffalo Soldiers" moniker, likely from Native American adversaries who compared their curly hair and fierce fighting to buffalo hides, following engagements such as the 1867 defense against Cheyenne near Fort Hays, Kansas.^[9] Despite systemic discrimination, including inferior equipment and housing compared to white units, the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Riley demonstrated high reenlistment rates—over 80% in some years—and compiled an exemplary combat record, with 18 Medals of Honor awarded to members of the 9th and 10th Cavalry for actions in frontier conflicts by 1890. Their presence helped enforce federal policies of containment and removal of tribes like the Cheyenne, contributing to the subjugation of the Plains frontier by the 1880s, though at the cost of significant casualties from combat, disease, and harsh conditions.^[11] Fort Riley's role as a staging point facilitated these operations until the regiments shifted focus southward toward Apache campaigns in the 1870s and 1880s.^[2]

Custer Era and Cavalry Development

In the fall of 1866, the United States Army organized the 7th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Riley, Kansas, as part of postwar efforts to establish mobile forces for frontier defense against Native American resistance and to secure expanding railroad lines.^[2] Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, a brevet major general from the Civil War known for bold cavalry charges, assumed command of the regiment upon his arrival at the post in December 1866.^[2] Recruits had begun concentrating at Fort Riley as early as August 1866, with initial organization efforts led by Major John W. Davidson before Custer's oversight integrated the unit into a cohesive mounted force equipped for rapid scouting and combat on the Great Plains. This formation represented a key step in the Army's reconstitution of cavalry capabilities diminished by the Civil War, emphasizing mobility, horsemanship, and light armament suited to open terrain operations.^[13] Custer's tenure at Fort Riley, from late 1866 through early 1867, focused on mustering, training, and disciplining the new regiment amid challenges like disease outbreaks and logistical strains from the post's remote location.^[2] The 7th Cavalry's drills and preparations at the fort honed skills in mounted maneuvers, carbine and pistol use, and sustained marches, drawing on Custer's experience to instill aggressive tactics adapted from Eastern battlefields to Western pursuits.^[14] By spring 1867, Custer led elements of the regiment on an extended campaign across western Kansas and eastern Colorado to protect the Kansas Pacific Railway and engage Cheyenne and Sioux warriors, covering hundreds of miles in grueling conditions that tested the unit's endurance and logistical support.^[2] These operations underscored Fort Riley's role as a staging base for cavalry expeditions, fostering developments in supply chains and reconnaissance methods essential for frontier warfare.^[15] The era also saw personal and disciplinary tensions, culminating in Custer's court-martial in 1867 after he prematurely returned to Fort Riley without authorization to visit his wife Elizabeth, who resided with him in officers' quarters now preserved as the Custer House.^[2] Despite the one-year suspension that followed the inconclusive campaign, Custer's command at Fort Riley solidified the 7th Cavalry's reputation as a vanguard unit, influencing subsequent Army doctrines on cavalry employment for pursuit and decisive engagement in irregular conflicts.^[16] The post's infrastructure, including stables and training grounds, supported this early phase of regimental maturation, laying groundwork for the mounted arm's evolution toward more specialized tactics in the decades ahead.^[17]

Institutional Modernization

Establishment of Cavalry School

In 1884, Lieutenant General Philip Sheridan recommended in his annual report to Congress that Fort Riley be designated the "Cavalry Headquarters of the Army," citing its expansive terrain suitable for mounted training and its central location.^[2] This advocacy addressed the U.S. Army's need for centralized, specialized instruction in cavalry tactics amid ongoing frontier duties and limited resources for professional development.^[18] Congress responded by authorizing the School of Application for Cavalry and Light Artillery at Fort Riley in January 1887, directing the Secretary of War to establish the institution on the post's reservation.^[7] On February 9, 1887, Headquarters of the Army issued General Order Number 9, formally creating the school and initiating construction of facilities including barracks, stables, and training grounds.^[19] Congress appropriated $200,000 for these improvements, enabling the development of over 20,000 acres into a dedicated training area for practical exercises in horsemanship, saber drill, and light artillery operations.^[19]^[18] The school commenced operations in 1892, initially focusing on non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel to standardize cavalry and light artillery skills, which had previously been taught informally at various posts.^[3] Instruction emphasized hands-on maneuvers over theoretical study, reflecting the Army's priority on rapid, deployable mounted forces for potential conflicts.^[18] By the mid-1890s, Fort Riley had solidified as the Army's primary cavalry training hub, with permanent units rotating through for drills, marking a shift from ad hoc frontier operations to institutionalized military education.^[2] This foundation later evolved into the Mounted Service School in 1907 and the Cavalry School proper after World War I, but the 1887-1892 period established its core infrastructure and mission.^[18]^[2]

Interwar Developments

Following World War I, Fort Riley served as a primary center for cavalry training and doctrinal development amid the U.S. Army's post-war demobilization and budget constraints. In 1919, the Mounted Service School at the post was redesignated the Cavalry School, expanding its curriculum to emphasize advanced mounted tactics, equitation, and leadership for officers and enlisted personnel.^[2] The 2nd Cavalry Regiment, arriving that year, functioned as the primary school training unit until 1939, providing demonstration troops for practical instruction in maneuvers and horsemanship.^[20] The Cavalry School thrived through the 1920s and 1930s, graduating thousands of cavalrymen and fostering innovations in scouting, charging tactics, and combined arms integration, despite growing debates over mechanization's role in future warfare.^[2] The 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, historically African-American units known as Buffalo Soldiers, were assigned as cadre regiments during this era, conducting demonstration exercises and supporting the school's instructional mission with their expertise in mounted operations.^[2] In 1921, the Cavalry School Hunt was established as an annual event, promoting equestrian skills and unit cohesion among students and faculty through fox hunting simulations adapted for military purposes.^[2] Infrastructure expansions addressed the needs of permanent garrison life and training demands. Beginning in 1927, the Army initiated a building program at Fort Riley, constructing permanent facilities including barracks, stables, and administrative structures to replace World War I-era temporary cantonments; by 1930, key additions like Building 436 (a multi-purpose hall) were completed.^[21] During the Great Depression, Public Works Administration-funded projects in the 1930s added officers' quarters, such as those in Carpenter Court, housing instructors and attendees while employing local labor and utilizing native limestone for durability.^[22] ^[7] These efforts increased the post's capacity to support up to several thousand personnel focused on peacetime readiness. As tanks and motorized vehicles gained prominence in Army experiments, Fort Riley hosted trials blending traditional cavalry with emerging technologies. In 1938, the post accommodated large-scale maneuvers by the 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized), relocated temporarily from Fort Knox, where horse-mounted units from Riley tested coordination with armored cars, trucks, and light tanks in simulated combat scenarios across expanded training areas.^[2] These exercises highlighted tensions between equine mobility and mechanical speed but underscored Fort Riley's evolving role in evaluating hybrid cavalry formations ahead of World War II.^[23] By late 1939, such activities foreshadowed the broader shift away from horse cavalry, though the school continued operations until 1942.^[2]

Marshall Army Airfield

Marshall Army Airfield was established in the 1920s at Fort Riley, Kansas, to support U.S. Army aviation activities amid post-World War I modernization efforts.^[24] The facility's development aligned with the Army's interwar emphasis on integrating emerging air capabilities with ground forces, particularly cavalry operations at the adjacent Cavalry School.^[25] Upon completion of initial infrastructure around 1923, the airfield was renamed in honor of the late Brigadier General Francis C. Marshall, reflecting its role in advancing combined arms training.^[25] During the interwar period, the airfield hosted numerous U.S. Army Air Corps flying units, facilitating flight operations, pilot training, and tactical exercises essential to the era's military doctrine evolution.^[24] Notable among these was the "Pair-O-Dice" Squadron, a designation linked to early pursuit and observation squadrons that contributed to aerial reconnaissance and support missions; elements of this unit trace lineage to the modern 90th Attack Squadron.^[24] These activities underscored Fort Riley's position as a key testing ground for air-ground coordination, though operations were constrained by limited funding and technological constraints typical of the 1920s and 1930s Army aviation budget.^[25] Infrastructure expansions in the 1930s bolstered the airfield's permanence and habitability. In 1934, as part of a broader construction program at Fort Riley, 26 new quarters were erected across the post, with 12 specifically built at the airfield to house personnel; these included two-story structures like Building 760, designed for enlisted and officer accommodations.^[26] Such developments supported sustained operations amid rising tensions in Europe and Asia, preparing the airfield for its expanded role in World War II mobilization.^[27]

World War Engagements

World War I Mobilization

Following the United States' declaration of war on Germany on April 6, 1917, Fort Riley underwent significant expansion to support the mobilization of the National Army.^[2] A new cantonment, Camp Funston, was constructed approximately five miles east of the main post, named in honor of Brigadier General Frederick Funston, who had died earlier that year.^[2] This facility became one of sixteen divisional cantonments established nationwide for training draftees, selected for its proximity to Fort Riley's existing infrastructure, including cavalry fields and firing ranges, on a reservation spanning nearly 20,000 acres.^[28] Construction of Camp Funston commenced on July 1, 1917, and was completed by December 1, 1917, featuring primarily two-story wooden barracks to house up to a full infantry division.^[29] The camp primarily trained the 89th Infantry Division, known as the "Middle West Division," composed of selectees from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, and surrounding states, with initial organization and training beginning in August 1917.^[30] The division, comprising infantry, artillery, and support units, underwent intensive preparation in modern warfare tactics, marksmanship, and field maneuvers, leveraging Fort Riley's terrain for realistic exercises.^[2] The 89th Division departed Camp Funston for France in the spring of 1918, marking the first major unit trained there to deploy overseas, where it participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.^[2] Subsequently, the 10th Division, a Regular Army formation, received training at the camp before its inactivation in early 1919.^[2] These efforts contributed to the rapid buildup of U.S. forces, with Camp Funston processing thousands of recruits amid the broader mobilization that expanded the Army from 127,000 to over 4 million men by war's end.^[31]

Spanish Influenza Epidemic

The first documented cases of the 1918 influenza pandemic in the United States occurred at Camp Funston, a training facility on Fort Riley, Kansas, on March 4, 1918, when Private Albert Gitchell, a company cook, reported symptoms including fever, sore throat, and headache.^[32]^[33] Within a week, approximately 500 cases were reported at the camp, and by the end of three weeks, over 1,100 soldiers out of a population of 56,222 had fallen ill.^[34]^[35] This initial outbreak, part of the milder first wave, was characterized as a "three-day flu" with a mortality rate around 2 percent, but it marked the emergence of the H1N1 strain that would fuel the global pandemic.^[36] Epidemiological evidence suggests the virus originated in Haskell County, Kansas, as early as January 1918, an isolated rural area where local physicians noted unusual influenza-like illnesses and deaths before recruits carried it to Camp Funston.^[37] From there, the pathogen spread rapidly through the densely packed military environment, facilitated by troop movements, and was transported overseas by American Expeditionary Forces, contributing to the pandemic's global dissemination.^[36]^[38] Camp Funston experienced one of the most severe impacts among U.S. military installations during the epidemic's early phase, with patients treated at the Fort Riley base hospital.^[39]^[40] The outbreak disrupted training activities at Fort Riley, though exact figures for fatalities during the spring wave remain limited in records; the virus's deadlier second wave in the fall of 1918 exacerbated mortality across U.S. Army camps, ultimately claiming around 45,000 American soldiers' lives during World War I, more than combat deaths.^[41] Quarantine measures and hospital expansions, such as temporary influenza wards, were implemented to contain spread, but the camp's role in the epidemic underscored the risks of mass mobilization in confined settings.^[39] Historical analyses emphasize that while the precise global origin is debated, the documented amplification at Camp Funston was pivotal in the pandemic's trajectory.^[37]

World War II Expansions and Training

In anticipation of U.S. entry into World War II, Fort Riley underwent significant expansions beginning in the late 1930s, including the rebuilding of Camp Funston with temporary structures and the construction of new barracks in the Republican Flats area, which was designated Camp Forsyth.^[2] These developments accommodated the stationing of the 2nd Cavalry Division in December 1940, comprising units such as the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments.^[2] Additionally, approximately 32,000 acres were added to the post's training lands to support expanded maneuvers and exercises.^[2] Fort Riley served as a primary training hub during the war, processing roughly 125,000 soldiers over four years through programs including the Cavalry Replacement Training Center established in response to escalating global threats.^[2] The 9th Armored Division was activated on July 15, 1942, at the post, where it conducted intensive training for nearly a year before redeployment to desert maneuvers in California.^[42] Training emphasized mechanized warfare, artillery operations, and unit cohesion, with facilities like Camp Forsyth dedicated to barracks and drill areas.^[43] President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the installation on Easter Sunday, 1943, to review troops and boost morale amid ongoing preparations.^[2] Following the 9th Armored Division's overseas deployment, Camp Funston was repurposed as a prisoner-of-war camp for German captives, who contributed to infrastructure projects under supervision, reflecting the post's adaptive role in wartime logistics.^[2] Notable figures such as boxer Joe Louis and actor Mickey Rooney underwent training at Fort Riley, highlighting its broad recruitment and preparation efforts for diverse personnel.^[2] These activities solidified Fort Riley's status as a cradle for armored and cavalry forces, directly contributing to the U.S. Army's rapid mobilization and combat readiness in Europe and beyond.^[44]

Cold War and Limited Conflicts

Korean War Contributions

Fort Riley assumed a vital training role following the North Korean invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950, which prompted a surge in U.S. Army mobilization and recruit processing across installations.^[2] The post processed and trained thousands of soldiers drawn from nationwide recruitment drives, focusing on foundational infantry skills to bolster forces amid the rapid expansion of Army end strength from approximately 600,000 to over 1.5 million personnel by 1952.^[2] ^[45] The 10th Infantry Division, activated on August 15, 1948, at Camp Funston—a sub-post of Fort Riley—conducted an intensive 16-week basic combat training program tailored for infantry roles.^[2] This curriculum emphasized weapons proficiency, field maneuvers, and unit cohesion, preparing graduates for immediate assignment to deploying divisions such as the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 24th, and 25th Infantry Divisions, which bore the brunt of early ground combat in Korea.^[2] ^[46] Personal accounts from trainees highlight the division's structure, including racially segregated and integrated regiments during early 1950s training cycles, reflecting the Army's transitional desegregation policies post-1948.^[47] While no major combat divisions were directly deployed from Fort Riley to the Korean theater—the 1st Infantry Division remained committed to occupation duties in Germany until 1955—the post supported indirect contributions through specialized training.^[2] The 1st Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Group, part of Army psychological operations, underwent preparation at Fort Riley before assignment to Far East Command, where it executed leaflet drops and radio propaganda campaigns to induce enemy defections and disrupt North Korean and Chinese morale, earning campaign credits for its efforts.^[48] The 37th Infantry Division, comprising Ohio National Guard elements federalized in 1950, trained at Fort Riley but was retained stateside for reserve augmentation rather than overseas deployment, aligning with broader National Guard mobilization strategies that prioritized active-duty fillers.^[2] Overall, Fort Riley's emphasis on scalable basic and advanced individual training facilitated the Army's ability to generate combat-ready replacements, sustaining operations against numerically superior communist forces through 1953 armistice.^[2] ^[49]

Vietnam Era Activities

In early 1965, the 1st Infantry Division, headquartered at Fort Riley, received directives to prepare for deployment to Vietnam amid escalating U.S. involvement in the conflict.^[50] Major General Jonathan O. Seaman, the division commander, oversaw intensive combat preparations, building on prior reorganizations under the Reorganization Objective Army Divisions structure implemented in 1963 to enhance flexibility with brigades of mixed infantry, armor, and artillery.^[51] These efforts included specialized training for counterinsurgency operations, such as air mobile tactics and jungle warfare simulations adapted to the post's central Kansas terrain.^[52] Deployment of the 1st Infantry Division began in July 1965, with the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry as the initial element to depart Fort Riley, followed by division headquarters in September.^[2] The bulk of the division arrived in South Vietnam by October 2, 1965, marking it as the second full U.S. Army division committed to combat there, with approximately 16,000 soldiers initially involved in operations northwest of Saigon against Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces.^[53] To support broader mobilization, Fort Riley established a provisional basic combat training brigade in 1965, processing draftees and volunteers for infantry skills amid peak draft inductions exceeding 300,000 annually.^[2] In February 1966, the 9th Infantry Division was reactivated at Fort Riley, where it conducted training for riverine and mechanized operations before deploying to the Mekong Delta in December 1966.^[2] During the absences of these divisions, the post maintained training pipelines for individual replacements, forwarding thousands of soldiers to Vietnam through advanced individual training cycles focused on weapons qualification and unit integration.^[3] The 1st Infantry Division returned to Fort Riley in April 1970, following policy shifts toward Vietnamization, with its elements refitting for NATO contingencies while absorbing lessons from five years of sustained combat.^[2]

Cold War Maneuvers

During the Cold War, Fort Riley hosted extensive training maneuvers for the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), emphasizing rapid deployment, combined arms operations, and deterrence against potential Soviet incursions into Western Europe. These exercises evolved from domestic field problems in the 1950s to large-scale transatlantic reinforcements, reflecting U.S. strategic shifts toward flexible response doctrines under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. Units at Fort Riley conducted annual combat proficiency drills, including live-fire maneuvers and armored infantry tactics, to maintain readiness amid escalating tensions like the 1958 and 1961 Berlin Crises.^[54]^[2] Operation Long Thrust, a series of ten deployments from late 1961 to fall 1964, represented the most significant Cold War-era maneuvers involving Fort Riley units, directly augmenting NATO forces in response to President Kennedy's directive to bolster the Berlin Brigade. Reinforced battle groups, such as the 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry, deployed from Fort Riley to West Germany via air and sea lift, where they conducted evaluations, occupied prepositioned equipment sites, and executed advances through simulated or actual Eastern Bloc border areas, as in Long Thrust VI in 1963. These operations tested logistical chains, scoring units on Army Training Tests (ATTs) to validate combat readiness, with superior performers rotating quarterly to demonstrate U.S. reinforcement speed—often within weeks—amid fears of Warsaw Pact invasion.^[51]^[55]^[56] In the 1970s and 1980s, Fort Riley-based elements shifted focus to REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany) exercises, annual NATO drills simulating massive reinforcements against Soviet offensives. The 1st Infantry Division periodically deployed up to 15,000 soldiers and thousands of vehicles from Fort Riley, as in REFORGER V (1973), where units airlifted via C-141 aircraft to integrate with European allies for maneuver warfare. By REFORGER 87, operations involved rail shipment of approximately 6,000 equipment pieces from Fort Riley to U.S. ports on 34 trains comprising 1,900 railcars, underscoring sustained logistical evolution to counter perceived Soviet numerical advantages in theater forces. These maneuvers honed division-level tactics, including mechanized assaults and electronic warfare, contributing to NATO's credible deterrence until the Cold War's end in 1991.^[2]^[57]^[56]

Operation Long Thrust

Operation Long Thrust consisted of a series of ten tactical deployments conducted by U.S. Army units from 1961 to 1964, designed to test rapid reinforcement of NATO forces in Europe amid escalating tensions from the Berlin Crisis.^[56] These operations involved deploying combat-ready battle groups across the Atlantic via sealift and airlift, followed by ground maneuvers through West Germany and, in some cases, advances into the Berlin Corridor through East German territory to demonstrate U.S. access rights and resolve against Soviet bloc interference.^[55] Directed by President John F. Kennedy in response to the August 1961 Berlin Wall construction and subsequent crises, the exercises augmented the U.S. Berlin Brigade and evaluated unit readiness under combat-like conditions, including live-fire training at sites like Wildflecken Training Area.^[58] Fort Riley's 1st Infantry Division played a central role, rotating reinforced battle groups quarterly to Europe under the operation, marking the division's most significant Cold War-era deployments short of full mobilization.^[51] For instance, in Operation Long Thrust VI during 1963, the 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry Regiment deployed from Fort Riley to Bremerhaven, West Germany, then conducted a 110-mile road march through the Helmstedt-Marienborn checkpoint into East Germany en route to Berlin, where troops performed guard duties, parades, and sector patrols for several months.^[55] Similarly, elements of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry participated in earlier iterations, including three months of war games in Wildflecken followed by four months in Berlin, emphasizing rapid assembly, sealift logistics, and confrontation with Warsaw Pact forces at the intra-German border.^[59] The operations highlighted logistical challenges and strategic deterrence, with units prepositioning equipment in Europe to shorten response times and conducting annual training tests (ATTs) scored for combat effectiveness; superior performers from Fort Riley, such as those achieving high marks in maneuvers, were prioritized for rotations.^[51] By fall 1964, Long Thrust evolved into broader REFORGER exercises, but its Fort Riley-based deployments underscored the post's role in maintaining U.S. ground presence amid fears of Soviet invasion or blockade of West Berlin, without escalating to direct conflict.^[56] No casualties occurred in these maneuvers, though they involved direct interaction with East German and Soviet forces at checkpoints, reinforcing alliance credibility.^[58]

Post-Cold War and Contemporary Operations

Gulf War Deployments

In response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, Fort Riley received notification in the fall of that year to mobilize troops and equipment for deployment to the Persian Gulf region.^[2] The 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), headquartered at Fort Riley and commanded by Major General Thomas Rhame, was alerted for deployment on November 8, 1990, as part of Operation Desert Shield to deter further Iraqi aggression and build coalition forces in Saudi Arabia.^[60] Over the subsequent two months, the division deployed more than 12,000 soldiers and 7,000 pieces of equipment, with Fort Riley facilitating the movement of 15,180 total soldiers via 115 aircraft flights between November 1990 and January 1991, alongside over 2,000 railcars carrying 3,000 short tons of equipment loaded onto 18 vessels.^[2] ^[60] Additionally, 27 non-divisional units and 24 Reserve Component units based at or associated with Fort Riley were mobilized to support the effort.^[2] During the buildup phase of Desert Shield, these forces conducted training and defensive preparations in theater, establishing positions along the Saudi-Iraqi border. The transition to Operation Desert Storm commenced with airstrikes on January 17, 1991, but the 1st Infantry Division's ground role intensified during the coalition's offensive. On February 24, 1991, the division spearheaded the breach of Iraqi border defenses, known as the "Saddam Line," by clearing four lanes through heavily fortified berms, trenches, and minefields, enabling the rapid advance of VII Corps armored elements deep into Iraq.^[60] ^[61] Over the ensuing 100 hours of ground combat, 1st Infantry Division units destroyed more than 500 Iraqi tanks, captured over 11,400 prisoners of war, and played a key role in disrupting Republican Guard retreats, contributing to the swift collapse of Iraqi forces in Kuwait and southern Iraq.^[60] Following the ceasefire on February 28, 1991, the deployed elements redeployed to Fort Riley, with soldiers returning in spring 1991 to resume peacetime operations.^[2]

1990s Restructuring and Base Realignment

In the aftermath of the Cold War's end and the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, the U.S. Army pursued extensive force structure reductions, shrinking active-duty end strength from approximately 780,000 soldiers in 1989 to around 480,000 by 1999, with corresponding adjustments at major installations like Fort Riley.^[62] These changes, driven by diminished threats from Europe and fiscal pressures, involved inactivating redundant units and realigning assets to emphasize rapid deployment and multinational operations rather than large-scale armored confrontations.^[63] At Fort Riley, home to the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), this manifested in the relocation of the division headquarters to Würzburg, Germany, in spring 1995, establishing a forward-deployed posture while retaining one brigade and support elements at the Kansas post.^[2] The Army's December 1994 restructuring announcement directly impacted Fort Riley by mandating the inactivation of the 1st Infantry Division's headquarters and multiple division support units stationed there, streamlining command structures amid overall drawdowns.^[63] Specific aviation assets faced cuts, including the inactivation of the 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment on September 15, 1995, following its return from Gulf War operations, and the broader Aviation Brigade in January 1996, reflecting a shift away from heavy helicopter dependencies in favor of lighter, more versatile formations.^[64] These moves reduced on-post personnel and infrastructure demands, though Fort Riley avoided outright closure recommendations in the 1991, 1993, or 1995 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) rounds, preserving its role as a training and readiness hub.^[65] By the late 1990s, Fort Riley's realigned footprint supported emerging missions, such as training for Balkan peacekeeping rotations, with remaining units like the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, integrated alongside tenant organizations including elements of the 1st Armored Division and the 937th Engineer Group.^[2] This period marked a transition from Cold War mass to post-Cold War agility, setting the stage for further modular brigade experiments, though base infrastructure saw minimal physical alterations beyond routine maintenance.^[63]

Return of the 1st Infantry Division

In 1995, the headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division relocated from Fort Riley to Germany as part of post-Cold War force restructuring, leaving only select elements, such as a maneuver brigade, at the installation.^[2] This shift reflected broader U.S. Army efforts to maintain a forward presence in Europe amid NATO commitments. However, the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations prompted the reversal of this arrangement, directing the consolidation of 1st Infantry Division units from Germany and South Korea back to Fort Riley to enhance domestic readiness and reduce overseas basing costs.^[4] On August 1, 2006, the 1st Infantry Division headquarters officially returned to Fort Riley, conducting a transfer of authority from the outgoing 24th Infantry Division, which had temporarily assumed responsibilities there.^[66] This realignment brought approximately 15,000 soldiers and their families to the post over the following years, reestablishing Fort Riley as the division's primary home station and "Big Red One" hub.^[51] The move supported modular brigade combat team structures under Army transformation initiatives, enabling rapid deployment capabilities for global operations.^[67] The return bolstered Fort Riley's infrastructure for heavy maneuver training, including integration with the post's expanded ranges and simulation facilities, while aligning with strategic shifts toward expeditionary forces post-9/11.^[2] By 2007, a newly constructed division headquarters facility was operational, facilitating command and control for subsequent rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan.^[51] This consolidation ensured the 1st Infantry Division's enduring association with Fort Riley, originating from its establishment there in 1917.^[66]

21st-Century Global Operations and Recent Deployments

In the early 2000s, units from Fort Riley's 1st Infantry Division participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, with the 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment deploying to northern Iraq on March 27, 2003, as part of Task Force 1-63 to secure key oil infrastructure and conduct combat operations.^[66] Subsequent brigade rotations followed, including elements of the 1st Brigade Combat Team supporting stabilization efforts in Iraq through 2004.^[68] These deployments emphasized mechanized infantry and armored operations in urban and rural environments against insurgent forces. Afghanistan operations intensified for 1st Infantry Division units in the late 2000s and early 2010s, with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team deploying to southern Afghanistan from May 2011 to May 2012, focusing on counterinsurgency and partnering with Afghan forces in Helmand Province.^[69] The division headquarters deployed to Bagram Airfield from April 2012 to March 2013 under Operation Enduring Freedom, overseeing Regional Command-East and coordinating multinational efforts against Taliban strongholds.^[2] Additional sustainment and aviation elements rotated through Iraq and Afghanistan, including headquarters deployments to Iraq from 2010 to 2011.^[2] By mid-decade, Fort Riley units shifted toward Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS, with the 1st Infantry Division assuming command of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command in Iraq on November 17, 2016, directing coalition advisory missions to Iraqi Security Forces until transferring authority to the 1st Armored Division in July 2017.^[70] Approximately 500 soldiers deployed in 2014 and again in fall 2016 to support training and advise-and-assist roles in the Middle East.^[71] ^[72] In response to Russian aggression, 1st Infantry Division elements from Fort Riley have conducted rotational deployments to Europe under Operation Atlantic Resolve since 2014, including the Combat Aviation Brigade's nine-month mission starting in 2021 across Germany, Latvia, Romania, and Poland to enhance NATO deterrence.^[73] The brigade returned in July 2024 after supporting multinational training and rapid response capabilities.^[74] As of July 2025, the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team is scheduled for a fall rotation to Europe, replacing outgoing units to maintain forward presence amid ongoing regional tensions.^[75]

Current Mission and Units

Stationed Units as of 2025

Fort Riley, Kansas, hosts the headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division (1ID), also known as the Big Red One, along with its primary subordinate combat, aviation, sustainment, and artillery elements as of October 2025. The installation supports approximately 15,000 active-duty soldiers focused on armored and mechanized operations, training, and rotational deployments to theaters such as Europe.^[76]^[77] Major maneuver units include the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (1ABCT), comprising the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment (infantry); 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery (artillery); 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment (reconnaissance); and 101st Brigade Support Battalion (logistics). The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (2ABCT) features units such as the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment. These brigades maintain heavy armored capabilities with M1 Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, and Paladin howitzers for combined arms maneuver.^[78]^[79] Aviation assets are provided by the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade (1CAB), equipped with AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, UH-60 Black Hawks, and MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones, including the 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment (attack reconnaissance) and 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment (air cavalry).^[78] Sustainment and fires support come from the 1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade (1IDSB), which manages logistics across the division, and 1st Infantry Division Artillery (DIVARTY), overseeing field artillery battalions like the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery for precision fires integration.^[80]^[79] Additional tenant units include the Army Field Support Battalion-Riley, which provides materiel support and assumed new leadership in June 2025. Rotational deployments, such as the 1ABCT's mission to Europe starting mid-2025, temporarily reduce on-post strength to 6,000–8,000 soldiers but do not alter permanent stationing.^[81]^[82]

Training Facilities and Readiness Programs

Fort Riley encompasses approximately 150 square miles of dedicated training land, supporting live-fire ranges, maneuver areas, and urban operations sites equipped with advanced instrumentation for realistic scenario-based training.^[76] This infrastructure enables the 1st Infantry Division and other units to conduct brigade-level collective training, including combined arms exercises that integrate infantry, armor, artillery, and aviation assets.^[83] The Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security (DPTMS) oversees Troop Schools, which deliver mandatory sustainment training and professional military education to over 15,000 soldiers annually. Courses include Combat Lifesaver certification for trauma response, CBRNE Defense for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats, and Digital Training Management System instruction for automated range operations.^[84] These programs emphasize individual and small-unit readiness, with hands-on simulations to maintain proficiency in weapons qualification and tactical skills.^[85] Readiness initiatives incorporate the Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system, implemented across the 1st Infantry Division to optimize soldier performance through integrated strength, conditioning, nutrition, and mental resilience training. H2F teams develop unit-specific programs, conducting assessments and classes that have expanded to multiple brigades since 2020, focusing on injury prevention and sustained deployability.^[86] Complementing this, the R2 Performance Center offers customized biometric tracking and recovery protocols for soldiers, civilians, and families, enhancing overall force resilience.^[87] Fort Riley maintains six physical fitness centers, including the historic King Field House and modern facilities like Whitside Army Airfield gym, equipped for cardiovascular, strength, and functional training to meet Army Physical Readiness Training standards.^[88] The Training Support Center provides logistical backing with munitions, targets, and simulation devices, ensuring seamless execution of gunnery and force-on-force exercises.^[89] Annual events, such as the 2025 full-scale emergency preparedness exercise, test installation-wide readiness through simulated crises, integrating medical, security, and evacuation responses.^[90]

Facilities and Infrastructure

Education and Family Support Services

Fort Riley provides educational opportunities for military personnel and their families through partnerships with local and regional institutions, as on-base schools are operated by local public school districts rather than the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).^[91] Children of service members typically attend schools in Geary County Unified School District 475 or Riley County schools, with options including Fort Riley Elementary, Fort Riley Middle School, and Manhattan High School nearby; these districts support military families through transition assistance and special education services.^[92]^[93] Army Continuing Education Services at Fort Riley facilitates access to higher education via on-post centers affiliated with institutions such as Barton Community College, Kansas State University, Manhattan Area Technical College, and Upper Iowa University, offering associate, bachelor's, and vocational programs tailored to service members' schedules.^[94]^[95]^[96] Family support services emphasize child care, youth development, and readiness programs to sustain military families amid frequent relocations and deployments. Child and Youth Services (CYS) operates Child Development Centers for infants through preschoolers (ages 6 weeks to 5 years), School-Age Services for elementary students (K-5th grade) with before- and after-school care, and Family Child Care homes providing flexible, certified in-home options for children up to age 12, including a 15% cost savings over center-based care.^[97]^[98] The Youth Center offers recreational and skill-building activities for teens, while Parent and Outreach Services connects families to these programs and provides resources for homeschooling, scholarships, and school transitions.^[99]^[100] Army Community Service (ACS) delivers comprehensive support, including the Family Advocacy Program for preventing abuse through counseling and education, the New Parent Support Program with home visits and parenting classes for families with children under 3, and Soldier and Family Readiness Groups (SFRGs) that offer deployment cycle training, resource referrals, and community events to enhance resilience.^[101]^[102]^[103] The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) coordinates specialized care for dependents with medical or educational needs, integrating with local evaluations in Geary and Riley Counties.^[104] These services collectively aim to bolster family stability, with ACS facilitating volunteer opportunities and financial readiness workshops as of 2025.^[105]

Irwin Army Community Hospital

Irwin Army Community Hospital (IACH) is the primary medical treatment facility serving active-duty personnel, retirees, and dependents at Fort Riley, Kansas, as part of the Military Health System. Located at 650 Huebner Road, it functions as a healthcare readiness platform for the 1st Infantry Division and the Central Flint Hills Region, emphasizing operational medicine and comprehensive care in a healing environment.^[106]^[107]^[108] The hospital traces its origins to early Fort Riley medical infrastructure, with the first permanent hospital constructed in 1855 southwest of a temporary 1854 structure. The modern predecessor, the Fort Riley Station Hospital, was dedicated in February 1958 with 250 beds expandable to 500 and named for Brigadier General Bernard John Irwin, a Medal of Honor recipient. This facility, the oldest operating Army hospital in the continental United States, was replaced by the current IACH, which opened in October 2016 at a cost of $343 million on the same site. The new structure provides 45 percent greater space and incorporates advanced medical engineering for enhanced patient outcomes and deployability support.^[109]^[110]^[111] IACH operates as a 47-bed hospital with specialized capabilities, including 20 medical-surgical bays, 16 labor and delivery rooms (an increase from eight in the prior facility), eight inpatient psychiatric beds, and an emergency department expanded to 19 beds from 12. It supports outpatient clinics, four operating rooms, a pharmacy, and ancillary services such as rehabilitative care and an Army Wellness Center focused on preventive health. The facility includes a central energy plant, ambulance garage, and a 653-car parking structure to facilitate access for its beneficiary population.^[109]^[112]^[113] Leadership transitioned on June 17, 2024, when Colonel Anthony D. Gray relinquished command to Colonel Laudino Castillo during a ceremony, underscoring ongoing commitments to mission readiness amid evolving healthcare demands. The hospital maintains standard operations, including appointment scheduling and procedures, while prioritizing beneficiary access and quality metrics tracked by the Defense Health Agency.^[114]^[115]

Museums and Historical Preservation

The Fort Riley museums, managed by the U.S. Army, collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret materials integral to the post's history and traditions, including cavalry operations and infantry division heritage.^[116] These facilities include the U.S. Cavalry Museum, the 1st Infantry Division Museum, and the Custer House, with the first two remaining open to visitors as of September 2025 following earlier announcements of potential nationwide Army museum closures.^[116] ^[117] The U.S. Cavalry Museum, housed in a building originally constructed in 1855 as a hospital in Fort Riley's historic Main Post district, features exhibits tracing American cavalry history from the Revolutionary War through its inactivation in 1950.^[118] ^[119] The museum displays galleries, dioramas, and artifacts depicting mounted soldier activities, including Civil War engagements and frontier service, and operates Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with free admission requiring a temporary base access pass for non-DOD ID holders.^[120] ^[116] The Custer House, built in 1855 from native limestone as one of the fort's earliest officers' quarters, serves as a historic house museum restored to reflect the living conditions of General George Armstrong Custer and his family during their residency from 1866 to 1867.^[121] ^[122] It provides insight into mid-19th-century military family life on the frontier and is open seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with visitors directed to the U.S. Cavalry Museum for operational details.^[123] The 1st Infantry Division Museum complements these by focusing on the division's operational history, including World War I deployments from Fort Riley.^[116] Fort Riley's historical preservation efforts encompass the Main Post, designated a National Register of Historic Places district on May 1, 1974, which includes approximately 290 structures contributing to the site's military heritage.^[124] ^[5] The Army's Conservation Branch enforces historic preservation laws, such as prohibiting artifact removal and requiring coordination for ground-disturbing activities to protect archaeological resources.^[125] Recent initiatives include masonry restoration of museum buildings, involving limestone repair, tuckpointing, and foundation work to maintain structural integrity while adhering to preservation standards, alongside barracks renovations that balance historical retention with modern soldier quality-of-life improvements.^[126] ^[127] The Main Post features preserved limestone architecture quarried locally, reflecting the fort's establishment era and ongoing commitment to cultural resource management.^[128]

Recent Infrastructure Enhancements

In 2025, the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Riley completed Phase III of a major solar energy security project in partnership with Corvias and Onyx Renewables, expanding onsite solar capacity to over 16 megawatts across rooftop installations on more than 1,600 family housing units and other facilities.^[129]^[130]^[131] This enhancement powers approximately 40% of the base's housing needs, improves energy resilience against grid disruptions, and reduces long-term operational costs through renewable integration, positioning it as one of Kansas's largest such military projects.^[132]^[133] Barracks modernization efforts have focused on upgrading aging structures to enhance soldier quality of life while preserving historical elements where applicable. Building 223, a World War II-era facility, underwent full renovation completed in October 2023, including modernized living quarters with improved utilities, communal spaces, and energy-efficient systems, balancing habitability upgrades with compliance to National Register of Historic Places standards.^[134] Similarly, Building 404 in the Main Post Historic District received rejuvenation to restore its structural integrity and adapt it for contemporary use.^[135] Ongoing projects target additional barracks, such as Buildings 7614, 7616, and 7648, redesigning outdated "Rolling Pin" layouts into single-soldier rooms with private baths, enhanced HVAC, and fire safety features under design-build contracts awarded around 2020.^[136] Building 7081 is slated for upgrades to address deferred maintenance and elevate living standards.^[134] Broader infrastructure initiatives include an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) that expanded central heating and cooling plants, upgraded energy management controls, and implemented conservation measures across 34 buildings, yielding measurable reductions in utility demands.^[137]^[138] The Combat Aviation Brigade facility added 176,000 square feet of new construction and renovations in the South Airfield area to support aviation operations with modern hangars and support spaces.^[139] At Irwin Army Community Hospital, expansions have increased inpatient and outpatient capacity through additional wings and ancillary services to meet growing medical demands.^[140] These enhancements collectively prioritize sustainability, operational efficiency, and troop welfare amid fiscal constraints.

Economic and Community Impact

Direct Economic Contributions

Fort Riley's direct economic contributions to the surrounding region in fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024) totaled $2.047 billion, derived from operational expenditures without applying economic multipliers.^[141] This figure primarily stems from payroll disbursements of $1.312 billion, which supported 13,640 active-duty military personnel (including 13,500 Army and 140 Air Force members) and 4,865 civilian employees, encompassing military base pay ($914 million), federal civil service pay ($228 million), non-appropriated and non-federal civilian pay ($41 million combined), and retiree annuities ($130 million).^[141] Procurement activities further bolstered direct inputs, with supply and service contracts amounting to $210 million and construction contracts at $31 million, alongside $49 million in intergovernmental support agreements for shared services.^[141] Health care expenditures totaled $80 million, while federal impact aid to local schools contributed $24 million to offset educational costs from base-related population growth.^[141] Veteran expenditures, reflecting local spending by installation-affiliated veterans, added $341 million to the direct tally.^[141] These contributions position Fort Riley as a major employer and spender in Riley and Geary Counties, sustaining local businesses through immediate infusions of federal funds.^[142]

Local Community Relations and Growth

Fort Riley maintains robust relations with adjacent communities in Riley and Geary Counties, including Junction City and Manhattan, through collaborative programs and intergovernmental support agreements (IGSAs) that facilitate shared resources and mutual benefits. These partnerships include joint infrastructure projects, such as a $26 million cost-saving arrangement with Geary County Unified School District for barracks renovations, and regular participation in local events to strengthen civilian-military ties.^[143]^[144] The installation's operations have spurred measurable population and economic expansion in the region, employing thousands as the primary job provider and drawing military families that bolster local demographics. In fiscal year 2024, Fort Riley generated a total economic impact exceeding $2 billion, encompassing $1.2 billion in direct payroll and additional spending by over 48,000 beneficiaries, including veterans whose population rose by 1,408 and expenditures by $7 million from the prior year.^[145]^[146]^[147] This influx has stimulated business development, particularly in housing, retail, and services tailored to off-post residents numbering over 2,500, positioning Junction City as a key beneficiary with enhanced commercial opportunities tied to base activities. However, expectations of accelerated growth in the early 2010s prompted excessive residential construction, leading to surplus housing stock and adjustment periods, with stabilization evident by 2024 as demand aligned more closely with actual inflows.^[148]^[149]^[150] Support networks, such as the Fort Riley-Central Kansas Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, further integrate soldiers with community stakeholders via targeted activities that promote long-term relational stability and regional vitality.^[151]

Environmental Management

Sources of Contamination

Historical military operations at Fort Riley have resulted in multiple sources of environmental contamination, primarily through releases of hazardous substances into soil, groundwater, and surface water. These include chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and vinyl chloride, derived from industrial activities like dry cleaning, printing, and degreasing operations conducted on base.^[152]^[153] Additional sources encompass landfills used for waste disposal, pesticide storage facilities, and furniture shops, which contributed metals, solvents, and other chemicals to the subsurface environment. Petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) from vehicle maintenance and fuel storage have contaminated groundwater and soil at least seven of 15 identified sites, stemming from leaks and spills during routine logistical support for training exercises.^[153]^[125] Munitions and explosives residues, including unexploded ordnance from artillery and live-fire training, represent another key source, with historical use leading to dispersal of energetic compounds and heavy metals across training areas. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) originated from the application of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in firefighting training and emergency responses, infiltrating soil and aquifers near fire training pits and crash sites.^[152]^[154] These contamination pathways were exacerbated by past waste management practices lacking modern containment, as documented under the Installation Restoration Program, which targets legacy releases from base-wide operations dating back to the post-World War II era.^[155]^[156]

PFAS and Groundwater Issues

Fort Riley has been subject to investigations into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in soil and groundwater, primarily stemming from historical use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) containing PFAS for firefighting training and emergency response.^[154] ^[157] The U.S. Army identified potential release sites through preliminary assessments and site inspections, with a focus on areas like Marshall Army Airfield where such foams were deployed.^[154] A 2020 site inspection at Marshall Army Airfield identified nine locations where groundwater exhibited PFOA and PFOS concentrations exceeding EPA screening levels, prompting further sampling and analysis under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).^[154] ^[158] Initial groundwater sampling reported PFAS compounds above these screening thresholds, though subsequent rounds of testing have informed ongoing delineation of affected areas.^[158] The site is listed on the EPA's Superfund National Priorities List, reflecting federal oversight of the contamination investigation that began in 2020.^[158] On-post drinking water supplies at Fort Riley are predominantly below the EPA's lifetime health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for combined PFOA and PFOS, with regular monitoring ensuring compliance for potable sources.^[154] Off-post private wells in proximity to the installation are evaluated through CERCLA processes, particularly where PFAS levels range from 4 to 12 ppt, involving risk assessments and potential mitigation to address migration risks.^[157] These efforts prioritize empirical groundwater monitoring data over unsubstantiated health claims, with the Army emphasizing that while contamination plumes exist, engineered controls and natural attenuation limit broader aquifer impacts based on hydrogeological modeling.^[154]

Remediation Initiatives and Regulatory Compliance

Fort Riley's environmental remediation efforts operate under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) framework as a designated Superfund site, addressing historical releases of contaminants such as chlorinated volatile organic compounds, metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), lead, fuels, and munitions or explosives.^[158] The site encompasses approximately 100,656 acres and has been divided into nine operable units (OUs) to facilitate targeted investigations and cleanups, with remedial actions completed for OUs 2, 4, and 7, while ongoing work persists at OU 9 involving surface and subsurface munitions removal per a Record of Decision signed on June 22, 2020.^[158] For OU 6, a soil Remedial Action Completion Report was approved in June 2023, followed by groundwater approval in January 2025; OUs 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8 incorporate long-term monitoring and institutional controls to ensure sustained protectiveness.^[158] PFAS-specific initiatives stem from identified releases primarily linked to historical use of aqueous film-forming foam in firefighting training, prompting a Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection that recommended further CERCLA remedial investigations into soil and groundwater impacts.^[159] These investigations, initiated in 2020, continue under Army leadership with coordination from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), though no final remedies have been selected as of the latest updates; future actions will follow the CERCLA process, including public participation.^[158] ^[160] Groundwater monitoring indicates elevated PFAS levels in some areas, but most on-post sources remain below EPA health advisory levels, with drinking water systems treated or sourced alternatively to mitigate risks.^[154] Regulatory compliance is enforced through a Federal Facility Agreement established on June 28, 1991, between the U.S. Army, EPA, and KDHE, which outlines coordinated response actions, timelines for OUs, and integration with ongoing military operations to expedite cleanups without compromising mission needs.^[158] ^[161] The site's fifth Five-Year Review, completed on September 27, 2022, affirmed that implemented remedies are protective of human health and the environment, subject to adherence to monitoring and controls.^[158] Fort Riley also maintains an Environmental Management System to ensure broader adherence to federal and state environmental laws, including Resource Conservation and Recovery Act provisions for hazardous waste management since interim status in 1980.^[162] ^[163]

Controversies and Challenges

Environmental Lawsuits and Health Claims

Fort Riley has been the subject of lawsuits alleging environmental contamination from historical military operations, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater and drinking water supplies. These actions, often part of multidistrict litigation involving aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used in firefighting training, claim that the U.S. Army failed to adequately address known risks from PFAS releases at sites such as fire training areas and landfills.^[164]^[165] In July 2023, former residents and military personnel reportedly filed claims asserting personal injury from exposure, though specific case dockets and outcomes remain part of ongoing proceedings without finalized settlements unique to the installation.^[164] The base's Superfund designation since October 1, 1990, underscores releases of hazardous substances including chlorinated volatile organic compounds, metals, and munitions residues, with PFAS investigations confirming exceedances of the EPA's former 70 parts per trillion advisory level at nine locations in 2020.^[158]^[166] Health claims tied to Fort Riley contamination primarily invoke PFAS exposure risks, with plaintiffs and veterans alleging links to conditions such as kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, and developmental disorders in children.^[166]^[164] These assertions draw from broader epidemiological data on PFAS, including CDC assessments associating the chemicals with immune suppression, elevated cholesterol, and certain malignancies, though site-specific causation requires individual medical evidence for validation in claims.^[165] Veterans pursue compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs by demonstrating service-era exposure via base records and nexus opinions from medical experts, as no presumptive service connection exists for PFAS-related illnesses as of 2025.^[165] The Army's sampling in July 2023 detected total PFAS at 3.8 ppt in drinking water—below proposed stricter EPA limits of near-zero but above background levels—prompting continued remediation without acknowledged direct health impacts in official reports.^[166]^[158] Regulatory reviews, including the site's fifth five-year evaluation in September 2022, have deemed certain operable units pose no unacceptable human health risks post-remediation, emphasizing institutional controls and monitoring over litigation-driven narratives.^[158] Despite this, advocacy from legal firms highlights potential eligibility for settlements in the range of $30,000 to $500,000 based on analogous AFFF cases against manufacturers, contingent on proof of residency or service during peak contamination periods from the 1980s onward.^[166]^[164] Claims against the Army itself face hurdles under sovereign immunity doctrines, shifting focus to third-party producers like 3M, with Fort Riley's role framed as operational negligence in foam deployment rather than primary liability.^[167]

Soldier Welfare and Mental Health Efforts

Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley offers outpatient and inpatient behavioral health services, including counseling for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, with top diagnoses encompassing adjustment disorders (32% of cases), depression (22%), and alcohol dependency (17%) based on 2022 data.^[168]^[169] Embedded Behavioral Health teams integrate directly into units to provide routine care, neuropsychology, and military-specific evaluations, while the Targeted Care initiative matches soldiers to appropriate treatment levels to minimize wait times and support readiness.^[170] Walk-in mental health services are available until 3:30 p.m. weekdays at the IACH clinic, supplemented by crisis hotlines like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.^[171]^[172] Suicide prevention efforts include mandatory annual training for all soldiers, with additional unit-level sessions triggered by incidents, as coordinated by the Fort Riley Suicide Prevention Program, which tracks trends and distributes resources through the Integrated Prevention Advisory Group.^[173]^[169] Data from the 2024 Community Health Assessment reveal rising suicide attempts—from 34 in 2019 to 46 in 2022—alongside ideations fluctuating between 94 and 152 annually from 2019 to 2022, underscoring the program's focus on high-risk behaviors like readiness-limiting mental health issues.^[169] The 1st Infantry Division's Victory Mental Health Summit in April 2022, attended by about 100 soldiers and community members, promoted Operation Victory Wellness by emphasizing five strength dimensions (emotional, social, spiritual, physical, family) and encouraging use of resources like confidential counseling.^[174] Broader welfare initiatives encompass the Military and Family Life Counseling Program, providing free, non-medical face-to-face support for soldiers and families facing deployment stresses or transitions.^[175] The Family Advocacy Program delivers workshops, interventions, and resiliency training to address domestic issues and enhance relationship skills, while the Soldier and Family Assistance Center aids wounded warriors with financial and recreational counseling during medical evaluation processes.^[176]^[177] These efforts align with Army-wide Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness training, which builds resilience through assessments and tailored modules, though local challenges persist, including only about 20 mental health providers for Fort Riley's active-duty population amid elevated behavioral health encounter rates.^[178]^[179]^[169]

Policy Disputes and Cultural Tensions

In 2022, cultural tensions emerged in the Fort Riley community over school policies on gender identity, particularly in Geary County Unified School District 475, which serves military dependents from the base. A math teacher at Fort Riley Middle School, Pamela Ricard, filed a lawsuit after being reprimanded and placed on administrative leave for refusing to use a transgender student's preferred pronouns during a parent-teacher conference and in school communications. Ricard argued that the district's anti-discrimination policy, which required affirming students' gender identities, violated her First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion, as it compelled her to endorse beliefs conflicting with her Christian faith.^[180]^[181] The district maintained that its policy aligned with Title IX and state anti-bullying laws, aiming to foster an inclusive environment for all students, including those identifying as LGBTQ+. However, a federal judge ruled in Ricard's favor on a preliminary injunction, stating the school could not prohibit her from informing parents about their child's transgender status without parental consent, emphasizing parental rights and transparency over institutional mandates. The case settled in August 2022, with the district paying Ricard $95,000 in damages and attorney's fees, without admitting wrongdoing, highlighting broader debates on balancing anti-discrimination measures against individual conscience rights in military-adjacent communities where transient families often navigate varying state and federal expectations.^[182]^[180] These incidents reflect ongoing policy frictions at the intersection of military family support systems and evolving cultural norms on gender, with critics of such school policies arguing they prioritize ideological conformity over empirical evidence on youth gender dysphoria outcomes, which studies indicate often resolve without intervention by adulthood. Proponents, including district officials, cite surveys showing improved student well-being under affirming policies, though longitudinal data remains contested and influenced by institutional reporting biases. No direct Fort Riley military command involvement was reported, but the base's proximity amplified local scrutiny, as USD 475 educates over 5,000 students annually, many from 1st Infantry Division families.^[181]

Notable Individuals

Military Leaders and Commanders

Fort Riley derives its name from Major General Bennett C. Riley, who in 1829 commanded the inaugural U.S. military escort along the Santa Fe Trail, safeguarding civilian wagon trains amid threats from indigenous groups and bandits.^[2] A career officer with service in the War of 1812 and Mexican-American War, Riley later acted as California's final military governor before succumbing to illness on June 9, 1853; the post, initially Camp Center, was redesignated Fort Riley in his honor on June 27, 1853.^[2] Site selection in fall 1852 fell to Captain Robert Chilton, whose survey party identified the strategic junction of the Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers.^[2] Construction commenced under Captain Edmund Ogden in spring 1854, but Ogden died during the devastating cholera outbreak of 1855 that claimed numerous personnel.^[2] Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer assumed command of the newly organized 7th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Riley in December 1866, directing its formation for Indian Wars campaigns across the Great Plains.^[2] Custer's tenure, though brief, marked the post's evolution into a key cavalry hub; he faced court-martial in 1867 for deserting to visit his wife, though charges were later dismissed.^[2] Lieutenant General Philip Sheridan, a prominent Civil War cavalry leader, advocated in his 1884 annual report for establishing Fort Riley as the U.S. Army's central cavalry headquarters, solidifying its doctrinal and training prominence through the late 19th century.^[2] In World War I, Major General Leonard Wood directed operations at Camp Funston—a expansive training extension of Fort Riley—mobilizing and preparing over 50,000 recruits for the 89th Division and elements of others before their deployment to Europe.^[2] Wood's oversight emphasized rigorous physical conditioning and marksmanship, contributing to the rapid expansion of U.S. forces amid the global conflict.^[2]

Enlisted Heroes and Other Figures

Staff Sergeant George Peterson, an enlisted soldier in Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for extraordinary heroism during World War II. On March 30, 1945, near Eisern, Germany, Peterson observed enemy machine guns pinning down his company and, despite being wounded, advanced alone under heavy fire to destroy three positions with hand grenades and rifle fire, enabling the unit's advance with minimal casualties before succumbing to his injuries.^[183]^[184] His actions exemplified enlisted valor in the division later headquartered at Fort Riley, where Peterson's service is commemorated alongside other 1st Infantry Division Medal of Honor recipients.^[185] Enlisted personnel from the all-Black 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments, known as Buffalo Soldiers, were stationed at Fort Riley from the late 19th century, conducting frontier patrols and campaigns against Native American forces. These units, composed primarily of African-American enlisted men led by white officers, earned 13 Medals of Honor collectively during the Indian Wars for actions including charges against superior numbers and rescues under fire, though specific Fort Riley-based recipients are not individually documented beyond regimental service.^[2]^[186] Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis (born Joseph Louis Barrow) enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army on January 9, 1942, and completed basic training at Fort Riley in a segregated cavalry unit. Promoted to technical sergeant, Louis conducted over 90 exhibition matches worldwide to raise morale, sold war bonds, and advocated against racial discrimination in the military, donating his boxing earnings to Army funds despite facing segregation.^[187]^[188] His service at Fort Riley highlighted the contributions of enlisted celebrities in wartime training and public relations efforts.^[189]

References

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About :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Jan 6, 2023 · Fort Riley, "Home of the Big Red One" (1st Infantry Division), is known for its excellent training, abundant recreational opportunities, rich history.
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History of Fort Riley and 1st Infantry Division - Army Garrisons
named in honor of Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Riley who had led the first military escort along the ...
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Fort Riley | Base Overview & Info | MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
Fort Riley is named in honor of Major General Bennett C. Riley who led the first military escort along the Santa Fe Trail. The fort was established in 1853 as a ...
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Fort Riley was also a post for the 9th and 10th Cavalry, the all-black Buffalo Soldiers of the late 19th Century. In 1887 Fort Riley gained the US Cavalry ...
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Fort Riley Hospital Privy Excavation | Chapman Center
1865-1869. Based on military records, construction of permanent facilities at Fort Riley began during the summer of 1855. This included a two-story hospital. It ...Missing: initial | Show results with:initial
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Fort Riley, Kansas – History & Hauntings - Legends of America
On June 27, 1853, the camp's name was changed to Fort Riley in honor of Major General Bennett C. Riley, who had led the first military escort along the Santa Fe ...
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[PDF] Ft.-Riley-Written-Historical-and-Descriptive-Data.pdf
Fort Riley was established in the 1850's to protect settlers and traders traveling along the sante Fe and. Oregan Trails. It was laid out in a traditional ...
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Fort Riley | Civil War on the Western Border
Kansas was officially opened to white settlers in 1854, and settlers, lured by promises of cheap land and easy wealth, rushed to the area.
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In this time, the regiment receives the nickname "Buffalo Soldiers," presumably from an incident wherein 70 Cheyenne warriors attack two civilian hunters and a ...
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Troop I, under Captain Armes, numbering 34 men and two officers, fought a party of 300 Indians near Saline River, 40 miles northeast of Fort Hays. The ...
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Jun 22, 2017 · By 1898 the Indian Wars are over and the 10th Cavalry has earned a distinguished record during this period. Thirteen enlisted men and six ...
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Explore the history and contributions of the Tenth Cavalry, composed of Black soldiers, during the Indian Wars and their significant role in shaping the ...Missing: Riley | Show results with:Riley<|control11|><|separator|>
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7 Cavalry History
The 7th Cavalry Regiment was constituted in the Regular Army on 28 July 1866 at Fort Riley, Kansas and organized on 21 September 1866.
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Lt Col George Armstrong Custer - National Park Service
In 1866, when the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment was created at Fort Riley, Kansas, Custer was promoted to the position of Lt. Colonel of the regiment. The first ...
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Established along the Kansas River to protect white travelers on the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails, Fort Riley continued to be an important military post through ...Missing: 1865-1870 operations
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Mar 1, 2024 · On 13 July, the 7th Cavalry finally reached Fort Wallace after covering 705 miles in six weeks of campaigning. ... Custer boarded a train to Fort ...
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[PDF] Historic Fort Riley
the post's initial construction. The building was renovated and a clock tower added in 1890, when it became the Cavalry School Administration Building. In ...
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Before It Was the Cavalry School - U.S. Horsemanship
This latter school had been established in 1887 by an act of Congress, which stated that the Secretary of War was authorized “and directed to establish upon the ...
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Cavalry School - The History of the U.S. Second Cavalry
May 14, 2008 · The school was established by General Order Number 9, Headquarters of the Army, February 9, 1887. Construction began at once and continued for several years.
[20]
2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment Memorial Plaque [Image 3 of 6] - DVIDS
Feb 13, 2023 · Cavalry was garrisoned at Fort Riley (1919-1939). They performed their peacetime duties as a school training regiment for the Cavalry School.
[21]
[PDF] Ks.· t-1e>·C... - Loc
Fort Riley received many new buildings and facilities during the Army building program initiated in 1927. Completed in 1930, building 436 was the second ...
[22]
[PDF] k's -r-1fx~ - Loc
Significance: Fort Riley received many new buildings and facilities during the Army building program initiated in 1927. Completed in August 1928, building 440 ...Missing: initial | Show results with:initial<|separator|>
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[PDF] The U.S. Cavalry and Mechanization, 1928 - 1940 - DTIC
May 15, 1995 · The American Army used this French model during the First World War and retained them as its standard light tank throughout most of the interwar ...
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10th Air Support Operations Squadron :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Nov 26, 2024 · Built in the 1920s, Marshall Army Airfield was host to many Air Corps flying units, including the famous "Pair-O-Dice" Squadron, now the 90th ...
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[PDF] Fort Riley Firing Ranges and Military Training Lands - DTIC
Oct 25, 2023 · Through the entirety of the interwar period, Fort Riley ... The airfield was renamed the Marshall Army Airfield after the late Brigadier General.
[26]
Fort Riley Friday Building 760 MAAF - DVIDS
Oct 26, 2023 · In 1934, 26 new quarters were built on #FortRiley with 12 of those constructed at the airfield. Among them was present-day building 760, a two- ...
[27]
Fort Riley - Facebook
Jul 27, 2018 · This #FortRileyFriday we look at one of the first permanent buildings constructed on Marshall Army Airfield. In 1934, 26 new quarters were ...
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Camp Funston - History - 1918 - GG Archives
The military reservation on which Fort Riley stands, and on which Camp Funston was built, embraces nearly 20,000 acres. A military road connects Fort Riley with ...
[29]
Army City, Kansas – A Short Lived High Life
Camp Funston was the largest of 16 divisional cantonments (temporary or semi-permanent military quarters) training camps constructed during World War I.
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35th and 89th Division World War I Unit Histories
The 89th Division, called the "Middle West Division," formed and began its training at Camp Funston, Fort Riley, Kansas, in August 1917. ... The 35th Infantry ...
[31]
Camp Funston - Veteran Voices Military Research
Camp Funston was established in July 1917. It was used as a training cantonment within Fort Riley, for the 89th Infantry Division.
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Today In History: First Recorded Case of the Spanish Flu | March
Mar 4, 2024 · On March 4th, 1918 at Fort Riley in North Central Kansas, Private ... Spanish Flu of 1918 Killed 21 Million Persons: U. S. Deaths More Than From ...
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March 2023: The 1918 Influenza Pandemic - U.S. Census Bureau
Mar 1, 2023 · Doctors documented the "first" case of the H1N1 influenza pandemic on March 4, 1918, in a U.S. Army cook stationed at Camp Funston, Fort Riley, ...
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The Pandemic of 1918 - ArcGIS StoryMaps
On March 4, 1918, the outbreak appeared at Camp Funston, and within a week there were 500 cases reported.
[35]
Flu outbreak killed 45000 U.S. Soldiers during World War I
Aug 30, 2018 · On March 4, 1918, the first influenza cases were identified at Camp Funston. Within three weeks, 1,100 of the 56,222 troops at the camp were ...
[36]
The Influenza Pandemic and The War
It is virtually certain that young men leaving Haskell County for military service at Camp Funston in eastern Kansas carried the virus with them. By early March ...
[37]
The site of origin of the 1918 influenza pandemic and its public ...
The most likely origin of the 1918 pandemic was Haskell County, Kansas, with the first known outbreak at Camp Funston, Kansas.
[38]
The Spanish Flu of 1918: A Historical Reflection and Lessons ... - NIH
In the spring of 1918, an army training center at the Fort Riley Kansas reported the first cases of Spanish flu in the United States. The first reported cases ...
[39]
Exhibit – The 1918 Influenza Epidemic
Camp Funston a U.S. Army training camp located on Fort Riley, Kansas was the only military post in the United States was hit worse than Camp Pike. The first ...
[40]
Influenza - AMEDD Center of History & Heritage
Sick of Camp Funston were treated at base hospital, Fort Riley. The epidemic ... An influenza epidemic started at Camp Wheeler about September 28, 1918.
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Aug 31, 2018 · On March 4, 1918, the first influenza cases were identified at Camp Funston. Within three weeks, 1,100 of the 56,222 troops at the camp were ...Missing: facts origin
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gnwhm - AMEDD Center of History & Heritage
The Ninth Armored Division was activated 15 July 1942 with permanent station at Fort Riley, Kansas. The Division moved to Camp Ibis, California in June, 1943.
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Apr 14, 2016 · During World War II, Camp Forsyth was designated as a new barracks and training area for Fort Riley. An additional 32,000 acres were added ...
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Jul 26, 2010 · Construction of the WTB complex near the Irwin Army Community Hospital started in September 2008. The 131,000ft² complex has a battalion ...
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[PDF] THE LAND WARFARE PAPERS - AUSA
the Korean War and the cold War mobilization peaked at 20 divisions. Personnel policies for manning divisions during the Korean War differed from those used ...
[46]
Korean War Overview - National Park Service
Jul 26, 2022 · The Army deployed eight divisions to Korea--the 1st Cavalry Division; the 2d, 3d, 7th, 24th, 25th, 40th and 45th Infantry Divisions; and the 5th ...
[47]
Clifford Bradley Dawson - Korean War Legacy Foundation
He recalls attending basic training at Ft. Riley, where the 10th Infantry Division comprised three regiments: one all-Black, one all-White, and one integrated. ...
[48]
[PDF] ARSOF IN THE KOREAN WAR
Jun 25, 2025 · ARSOF's 1st RB&L was assigned the Far East Command strategic Psywar mission in Korea, including creating leaflets like one promoting defection.<|separator|>
[49]
The Korean War | The United States Army
The Korean War, often referred to as "The Forgotten War," was fought from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953.
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The First Heads for Vietnam - warchronicle.com
Bien Hoa encampment of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Over the next two weeks he and his staff worked out the brigade's force ...
[51]
First Division History
At Ft. Riley, 1st Infantry Division units ceased recruit training to prepare for combat. Trainees primed for transfer were retained. Recruits from Ft. Ord and ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[52]
Vietnam War - First Division Museum
With the 1969 policy of pacification and Vietnamization, the 1st Infantry Division returned to the United States in 1970 to its former home at Fort Riley, ...
[53]
1st Infantry Division - US Army - Vietnam - Sons of Liberty Museum
During the enemy Tet Offensive of 1968, the 1st Infantry Division secured the Tan Son Nhut Airbase the primary hub for air operations within all of Vietnam.Patches - Insignia · Composition · Operations<|separator|>
[54]
Cold War I, 1945-1965 | 16th Infantry Regiment Association
... training exercises designed to bring the 16th Infantry to wartime fighting proficiency. ... The 1st Battle Group at Fort Riley now remained the only element of ...
[55]
1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment - GlobalSecurity.org
May 7, 2011 · In 1963, Operation Long Thrust VI deployed 1st Battle Group from Fort Riley, Kansas to West Germany from where it advanced through Communist ...
[56]
Demonstrating Rapid Reinforcement of NATO - Army University Press
During the REFORGER 87 exercise, some 6,000 pieces equipment from Fort Riley headed to the port of Beaumont, Texas, on 34 trains composed of 1,900 US Army cars.
[57]
1st Infantry Division Concludes Intelligence Support for REFORGER ...
Oct 20, 2023 · The 1st Infantry Division was deployed to Germany from Fort Riley, Kansas, for the REFORGER V exercise.
[58]
History - Berlin US Military Veterans Association
Operation LONG THRUST, directed by President Kennedy in the aftermath of the August and October 1961 crises, intended to demonstrate American resolve in ...
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THE COLD WAR - 2-12th INFANTRY- VIETNAM
This page contains some of my notes about the 12th Infantry before Vietnam. It is offered in its incomplete form for educational purpose.
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Desert Shield/Storm - First Division Museum
1990-1991: Under the command of MG Thomas Rhame, the 1st Infantry Division (Mech) deployed over 12,000 troops. In response to Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
[61]
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Mar 7, 2017 · Fitzgerald was stationed at Fort Riley from 1989-1993 while she was an intelligence analyst with Higher Headquarters Command, 1st Inf. Div., she ...
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[PDF] Taking Stock of the Army's Base Realignment and Closure Selection ...
The 1990 law that authorized the last three BRAC rounds restricted the Department of Defense. (DoD) to considering only the force structure programmed out to a ...
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Oct 13, 2016 · Roughly 1,800 soldiers were initially deployed, including troops from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the Division, the 101st ...
[64]
1st Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment - GlobalSecurity.org
Apr 16, 2012 · Upon return to Fort Riley, Kansas, the unit continued training until it was inactivated 15 September 1995.Missing: inactivations | Show results with:inactivations
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[PDF] 1995 BRAC Commission Report 7-1-95 - GovInfo
Jul 1, 1995 · The 1995 report contains findings and recommendations for closure and realignment of military installations, aiming to maintain readiness and ...
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Mission & History of the 1st Infantry Division
The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley build and maintain combat ready forces; on order deploys these forces in an expeditionary manner to conduct Decisive ...Missing: developments | Show results with:developments
[67]
Current 1st Infantry Division
Transformations and Deployments. The Big Red One has been at Fort Riley, Kansas, since 2006. On July 7, 2006, after a 10 year absence from the United States ...
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Sep 25, 2014 · About 500 troops from the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kansas, will head to Iraq and other countries in the Middle East ...
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8 de fev. de 2021 · The majority of equipment and personnel will be stationed in Germany, with a forward presence in Latvia, Romania and Poland. For more ...
[74]
Combat Aviation Brigade Command Team, Colors return to Fort ...
16 de jul. de 2024 · The 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, officially marked its return from a 9-month deployment to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve.
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Home :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
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The official website for the 1st Infantry Division. The 1st Infantry Division is a combined arms division of the United States Army, and is the oldest ...
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Browse or search for Major Units at Fort Riley. Here you'll find command name, phone numbers & websites.
[79]
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Active Duty Units · HHC · 1-18 Infantry · 1-63 Armor · 5-4 Cavalry · 1-7 Field Artillery · 82nd Engineers · 299 Brigade Support Battalion.
[80]
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It provides logistics support to the 1st Infantry Division. Activated in 2007, the unit is a modular brigade capable of a variety of actions.
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Commander, Army Field Support Battalion - Riley
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Fort Riley unit preparing for rotational deployment to Europe | News
Jul 23, 2025 · A Fort Riley unit is preparing for deployment to Europe, officials confirmed Wednesday. The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry ...
[83]
#Readiness: Training with the "Fighting First" -- Fort Riley, Kan ...
Oct 20, 2015 · Since two thousand five, the training program has grown to support five First Infantry Division Brigades and because it's the only forcecom ...Missing: 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
[84]
Troop Schools :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Oct 17, 2024 · Troop Schools at Fort Riley provides professional and military education and sustainment training services for all Fort Riley Soldiers.
[85]
Military Programs
Barton is the key provider of centralized sustainment training for the 1st Infantry Division soldiers of Fort Riley Kansas, in partnership with DPTMS Troop ...
[86]
1st Infantry Division's H2F Team Expands Their Reach Across Fort ...
Feb 26, 2025 · After morning PT, she will spend the day creating training programs for Soldiers to implement on their own PT time, and teach classes at the ...
[87]
Fort Riley R2 Performance Center - Facebook
Rating 5.0 (2) The Fort Riley R2 Performance Center provides customized performance training that enables Soldiers, DA Civilians, and family members to sustain personal ...<|separator|>
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Physical Fitness Centers - Fort Riley's MWR
Fort Riley features six physical fitness centers, all designed to cater to your fitness needs. From historic King Field House to the modern design of Whitside ...
[89]
TRAINING SUPPORT CENTER (TSC) WAREHOUSE
The TSC supports all units and activities for the Active Army and Reserve Components, Reserve Officer's Training Corps, and other authorized units/activities, ...
[90]
#ICYMI Fort Riley executed the 2025 Annual Installation Full-Scale ...
Jul 23, 2025 · Major players were University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine's VETS Disaster Response Team, FL SARC (our own state disaster response ...
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Fort Riley | Local Schools Info & Resources | MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
Transitioning to Fort Riley? If you're considering local schools, the Department of Defense helps to answer three basic questions. Read more here.
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Special Education Services - Fort Riley Elementary
Our Special Education team is dedicated to providing individualized instruction and learning opportunities for students with diverse learning needs.
[93]
Ft Riley Youth Education Services | Military Base Guide
Fort Riley offers many options for primary and secondary education. The public schools are some of the best in the country, and there are many private and ...
[94]
Army Continuing Education Services :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Jul 30, 2025 · Army Continuing Education Services ; Barton Community College · Phone: (785) 784-6606 · fortriley@bartonccc.edu · Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM ...
[95]
Fort Riley Campus Office - | Manhattan Area Technical College
Whether you're stationed at Fort Riley or part of a military family, Manhattan Tech offers high-quality, hands-on education that fits your unique lifestyle.
[96]
Fort Riley - Upper Iowa University
UIU's Fort Riley regional education center offers you the chance to fit a top-notch education into your busy life and to coordinate with your military mission.<|separator|>
[97]
Family Child Care - FCC :: Ft. Riley - Army MWR
FCC provides home-based care for children 4 weeks to 12 years old, with flexible hours and 15% cost savings. Providers are vetted and certified.
[98]
Fort Riley | Child Care Programs & Centers | MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
Find out about the child care programs & services at Fort Riley, including Child Development Centers, School Age Programs, & Family Child Care.
[99]
Youth Center - Fort Riley's MWR
G9 integrates and delivers Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs and services enabling readiness and resilience for a globally-responsive Army.
[100]
Parent and Outreach Services - Fort Riley's MWR
Parent and Outreach Services is the gateway that connects Families to CYS programs. Its mission is to support Readiness and Well-Being of Families.
[101]
Family Advocacy Program :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Apr 28, 2025 · We are here to help you cope with those unique challenges by keeping your Family strong. Call Army Community Service (ACS) at (785) 239-9435 ...
[102]
New Parent Support Program :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Jul 29, 2024 · The NPSP offers home visits, support groups, parenting classes, and activities, including a play group for parents with children 12-36 months.Missing: care | Show results with:care
[103]
Mobilization, Deployment and Stability Support Operations and SFRG
Feb 5, 2025 · We provide resources and referrals, assist commanders with family readiness plans, assisting installation programs to align with the unit deployment cycle.Missing: youth | Show results with:youth
[104]
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
For Geary County (FT Riley) you would call (785) 717-4130 or Riley County (785) 587-2830 and set up an evaluation. The service they provide will involve a ...
[105]
Fort Riley | Military & Family Support Center Programs & Services
Emergency Family Assistance Center; Soldier & Family Readiness Group Training; Hearts Apart ~ Family Strong during deployments. Employment Readiness Program.
[106]
About Us - Irwin Army Community Hospital
Welcome to the home of the Big Red One and Irwin Army Community Hospital. We are the premier healthcare readiness platform for the Central Flint Hills Region.Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[107]
Irwin Army Community Hospital > About Us > Directory - Tricare
Irwin Army Community Hospital, 650 Huebner Road, Fort Riley, KS 66442, USA. Stay Connected. Email Updates. Sign up to receive IACH Updates via email.
[108]
Health Services - Irwin Army Community Hospital
As a premier healthcare organization in the Department of Defense, our focus is to provide you world-class medical care in a healing environment.
[109]
Irwin Army Community Hospital > About Us > History - Tricare
Construction of the first permanent hospital at Fort Riley was completed in 1855, slightly southwest of the temporary hospital built in 1854 and was constructed ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[110]
Fort Riley - Facebook
Mar 5, 2021 · The facility was dedicated in February 1958 with 250 beds, expandable to 500 beds. The hospital was named in memory of Brig. Gen. Bernard John ...
[111]
Opening of New Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley - DVIDS
Nov 15, 2016 · The new $343 million facility replaces the oldest operating Army hospital in the Continental United States (CONUS), which originally opened in 1958.Missing: history | Show results with:history
[112]
Irwin Army Community Hospital - Health.mil
Page highlighting details about the military treatment facility's quality, patient safety and access information.
[113]
Fort Riley's Irwin Army Community Hospital commander discusses ...
There will be 20 medical/surgical bays, 16 labor and delivery rooms as opposed to the current eight and eight inpatient psychiatric beds. There also will be a ...Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
[114]
Change of Command at Irwin Army Community Hospital - DVIDS
Jun 18, 2024 · Irwin Army Community Hospital held a change of command ceremony June 17, 2024, where Col. Anthony D. Gray relinquished command to Col. Laudino Castillo.
[115]
MHS Leader Champions Fort Riley Healthcare Mission
Irwin Army Community Hospital is open, and we continue to schedule appointments and procedures. We will do our best to minimize impact on our beneficiaries who ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[116]
Fort Riley Museums - Army Garrisons
Sep 16, 2025 · The U.S. Cavalry Museum and 1ID Museum are now open and available to visitors during normal operating hours. Museums are closed on New Year's ...
[117]
Fort Riley museums included in nationwide closings
Jun 11, 2025 · Fort Riley has three museums: the First Infantry Museum, the Cavalry Museum and General Custer's House. It is not yet announced how many of its museums will ...
[118]
US Cavalry Museum - U.S. Army Center of Military History
The US Cavalry Museum is located in Fort Riley's historic main post district. Originally constructed in 1855 for use as a hospital.
[119]
U.S. Cavalry Museum | Geary County CVB - Official Website
Visitors enjoy exhibit galleries that take them on a historic tour of the cavalry's history, from the Revolutionary War through inactivation in 1950.
[120]
United States Army's Cavalry Museum
Named for Major General Bennett C. Riley, an admired cavalry commander who led the first military escort along the Santa Fe Trail in 1829, Fort Riley was ...
[121]
Custer House - U.S. Army Center of Military History
Visiting the Museum · Free Admission · Open Memorial Day through Labor Day · Visitors to Fort Riley who don't have a Department of Defense ID card must stop by the ...
[122]
Custer House | Friends of the Fort Riley Museums
The Custer House is a short walk across the street from the two museums. The building you will visit was constructed of native limestone in 1855.
[123]
Custer House | Geary County CVB - Official Website
The Custer House is open to the public for visitation from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Call the U.S. Cavalry Museum for hours of operation. Fort Riley Access.
[124]
Historic limestone conservation study for Fort Riley, Kansas
Mar 20, 2018 · Fort Riley is responsible for maintaining and protecting approximately 290 historic structures, all of which contribute in some way to the ...
[125]
Conservation Branch :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Jun 11, 2025 · Interpretation of Historic Preservation Laws and Regulations · Call before Digging! · NEVER disturb or remove artifacts from their location. · If ...
[126]
Multiple Museum Renovation at Fort Riley - Blinderman Construction
Masonry restoration efforts across all three buildings involved restoring historic limestone, foundation work, grinding and tuckpointing, and matching historic ...
[127]
Fort Riley barracks renovations help to improve quality of life for ...
Nov 4, 2024 · Fort Riley has been able to preserve the historical significance of many of its buildings and facilities, all while improving the quality of life for its ...
[128]
Fort Riley Historic Homes - Spencer Preservation
Fort Riley's Main Post is a National Register Historic District with historic homes dating from the fort's establishment in the 1850s to 1930s residences.
[129]
Corvias Partnership Accelerates Army's Fort Riley Energy Resiliency ...
Feb 19, 2025 · “These onsite solar installations at Fort Riley not only enhance energy security and reliability for service members and their families but also ...Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025
[130]
Onyx Renewables Delivers Additional 4MW of Solar Energy to U.S. ...
Feb 20, 2025 · The total installed solar capacity at the military garrison now exceeds 16 MW, making it one of the largest renewable energy projects in Kansas.Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025
[131]
U.S. Army completes third phase of Fort Riley solar project
Mar 3, 2025 · One of the largest renewable energy projects in Kansas, the solar installations will power 40% of Fort Riley's needs.Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025
[132]
US Army's Fort Riley Solar Installation Reaches 16 MW, Powers 40 ...
Feb 25, 2025 · This latest phase brings the garrison's capacity to more than 16 MW and makes it one of the largest renewable energy projects in Kansas.
[133]
Corvias Boosts Fort Riley's Energy Resilience, Cuts Costs For U.S. ...
Feb 20, 2025 · Corvias, a top provider of energy and infrastructure solutions, has completed Phase III of an energy security project at US Army Garrison Fort Riley.
[134]
Enabling the warfighter: Fort Riley barracks renovations help to ...
Apr 11, 2024 · While not a historical renovation like Buildings 223 and 404, Building 7081 will receive much-needed upgrades to improve the living conditions ...Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025
[135]
Fort Riley - Building 404 - Blinderman Construction
This contract aimed to rejuvenate Building 404, a significant historical structure within the Fort Riley Main Post National Register Historic District.
[136]
Building Renovations Buildings 7614 7616 7648 Fort Riley Kansas
The general scope of this Design-Build contract will be to redesign existing older barracks buildings from their current configuration of “Rolling Pin” style.Missing: base upgrades
[137]
Fort Riley ESPC - Southland Industries
Southland delivered Fort Riley a multi-phased ESPC project including expanding and upgrading the central plants and energy management controls, ...
[138]
Fort Riley Military Base - P1 Construction, LLC
P1 recently completed commissioning work on 34 buildings focused on energy conservations measures, BMS (controls) sequence changes, as well as mechanical ...
[139]
Fort Riley Combat Aviation Brigade Facility - Mortenson
This large multi-site design-build project involved 176000 square feet of new construction and renovation in the South Airfield area of Fort Riley, KS.
[140]
Irwin Army Community Hospital Project at Ft. Riley
We managed 47 inpatient beds, 33 clinics, four operating rooms and a pharmacy, as well as doctor and administrative offices. A team of 16 full-time, on-site ...
[141]
[PDF] Fort Riley, Kansas - Army Garrisons
Sep 30, 2024 · Fort Riley proudly serves as the oldest continually serving FORSCOM installation, with the oldest and most storied division, the Big Red One. ...<|separator|>
[142]
Fort Riley reports $2 billion economic impact in past fiscal year - KSNT
Jan 24, 2025 · Fort Riley measured its economic impact through several different factors, coming to a total impact amount of more than $2,047,159,088. The ...Missing: study | Show results with:study
[143]
Military-Community Partnerships: Today and in the Future
Oct 28, 2024 · Fort Riley has an IGSA with Geary County Unified School District that will save $26 million for just two barracks renovation projects. One ...
[144]
Community Relations :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Apr 8, 2025 · Fort Riley regularly supports a wide variety of community relations is proud of the relationship we maintain with our community partners.Missing: economic | Show results with:economic
[145]
Fort Riley reports $2 billion economic impact in past fiscal year
Jan 24, 2025 · Fort Riley measured its economic impact through several different factors, coming to a total impact amount of more than $2,047,159,088. The ...Missing: study | Show results with:study<|separator|>
[146]
In Our Communities – Association of Defense Communities (ADC)
Jan 31, 2025 · Fort Riley, Kansas has officially surpassed $2 billion in local economic impact, according to a new impact study. In fiscal year 2024, Fort ...
[147]
Fort Riley - Junction City Main Street, Kansas
FR affiliated population remains strong with a slight increase to 68.4K Soldiers, Family Members, Civilians, Retirees, & Veterans. Learn more about Fort Riley ...
[148]
Junction City, KS | Economic Development Information - Scout Cities
How does the presence of Fort Riley impact the local economy and business opportunities in Junction City? Fort Riley significantly influences the local ...
[149]
Fort Riley & the Manhattan Area
Fort Riley is 10 minutes west of Manhattan, serving over 48,000 people, with a $1.98B economic impact in 2023, and over 2,500 off-post residents.
[150]
How Junction City is recovering from building too much housing
Sep 23, 2024 · Junction City built entire neighborhoods for a population that never materialized. But a recovery appears to be underway.
[151]
Fort Riley-Central Kansas Chapter - AUSA
Aug 25, 2016 · The Fort Riley-Central Kansas Chapter of AUSA develops programs and activities that provide community support for Fort Riley Soldiers and their families.
[152]
FORT RILEY | Superfund Site Profile - gov.epa.cfpub
COCs are the chemical substances found at the site that EPA has determined pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
[153]
fort riley - ToxicSites
Potential sources of contamination include a variety of landfills; printing, dry cleaning, and furniture shops; and pesticide storage facilities. Fort Riley was ...
[154]
PFAS :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Oct 18, 2023 · PFAS may be in soil/groundwater at Fort Riley from firefighting foam. Some groundwater had high levels, but most on-post water is below EPA ...
[155]
[PDF] environmental restoration - fort riley, ks
Fort Riley's IRP aims to clean up contaminated sites, achieve regulatory closure, and restore beneficial reuse, addressing past practices.<|separator|>
[156]
Superfund Site Profile - Fort Riley - gov.epa.cfpub
Historical operations by the Army at Fort Riley have resulted in the release of hazardous substances to soil, surface water and groundwater. The primary site ...Missing: military base
[157]
Fort Riley - U.S. Army Environmental Command
The Army uses CERCLA (Superfund) to investigate PFAS releases and lead comprehensive restoration efforts in coordination with federal and state regulatory ...
[158]
FORT RILEY | Superfund Site Profile - gov.epa.cfpub
Fort Riley is a Superfund site due to historical releases of hazardous substances, including chlorinated compounds, metals, and munitions. Current activities ...
[159]
[PDF] Fort Riley, Kansas - U.S. Army Environmental Command
The United States Army (Army) is performing preliminary assessments (PAs) and site inspections (SIs) on the current or potential historical use of per- and ...Missing: issues | Show results with:issues
[160]
[PDF] FACT SHEET - Army.mil
Future potential remedy actions will be determined following the CERCLA process, in coordination with the EPA, KDHE and public participation. Other PFAS Actions.Missing: operable units<|control11|><|separator|>
[161]
[PDF] Ft. Riley Federal Facility Agreement - EPA
I. JURISDICTION. Each Party is entering into this Agreement pursuant to the following authorities: A. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA),.
[162]
[PDF] Fort Riley Environmental Management Policy - Army Garrisons
Fort Riley has an environmental management system that guides compliance with environmental laws and regulations and is described in the Fort Riley ...Missing: contamination | Show results with:contamination<|separator|>
[163]
[PDF] The Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Aug 29, 2024 · Fort Riley is an active United States Army Installation. In 1980 Fort Riley received interim status with the submission of their initial ...Missing: compliance | Show results with:compliance
[164]
Fort Riley Water Contamination - MilitaryHazards.org
Fort Riley's water contamination includes PFAS and lead, linked to military activity, and current water quality still exceeds EPA limits for PFAS.
[165]
Toxic Exposure at Fort Riley - PFAS Contamination - Hill & Ponton
In October 1990, Fort Riley was added to the EPA's National Priorities List due to extensive soil and groundwater contamination. The primary contaminants of ...Missing: pollution | Show results with:pollution
[166]
Fort Riley Water Contamination Lawsuit [2025 Update] - King Law
Rating 4.9 (159) October 1990: Fort Riley was added to the National Priorities List due to soil and groundwater contamination. On this page: Historical Background of Toxic ...Missing: pollution | Show results with:pollution
[167]
PFAS Military Lawsuit [2025 Overview] | TorHoerman Law
On this page, we'll discuss the PFAS Military Lawsuit, historical and ongoing issues of PFAS contamination in water supplies at military bases.<|separator|>
[168]
Mental (Behavioral) Health - Irwin Army Community Hospital
Targeted Care is a specialized mental health program at Fort Riley that increases access to care, reduces wait times and increases readiness by matching the ...Embedded Behavioral Health... · Inpatient Behavioral Health · Environmental Health
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None
### Summary of Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Suicide Prevention, Soldier Welfare, and Related Statistics/Efforts at Fort Riley (2024 Community Health Assessment)
[170]
Embedded Behavioral Health 1 (EBH1)
EBH1 services include routine outpatient BH services, neuropsychology, health psychology, forensic evaluations, and a wide-range of military-specific ...Missing: Infantry | Show results with:Infantry
[171]
Fort Riley | Health Care Info & Resources | MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
Walk-in Mental Health services are available until 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday in the IACH Mental Health Clinic. Evaluation for psychiatric emergencies ...<|separator|>
[172]
Crisis Phone Numbers :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Mar 5, 2024 · Fire/Police/Medical Emergency · 911 · Fort Riley Police · (785) 239-MPMP (6767) · Fort Riley Emergency Operations Center (24/7) ...
[173]
Suicide Prevention :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Jan 26, 2023 · Annual Suicide Prevention training is a requirement for all Soldiers. Units may also conduct special, unscheduled, training in response to a suicide event.
[174]
Mind Over Matter: 1ID holds Victory Mental Health Summit - DVIDS
Apr 29, 2022 · The 1st Infantry Division and Irwin Army Community Hospital hosted the Victory Mental Health Summit at the Riley Conference Center on April 28, 2022.<|separator|>
[175]
Military & Family Life Counselors :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Oct 4, 2024 · The Military and Family Life Counseling Program helps military families overcome challenges with free face-to-face support.
[176]
Family Advocacy Program - Fort Riley's MWR
Mar 5, 2025 · Our services include seminars, workshops, counseling, and intervention to help strengthen Army Families, enhance resiliency and relationship skills, and ...
[177]
Soldier & Family Assistance Center - Fort Riley's MWR
Jan 14, 2021 · The SFAC supports Service Members who are assigned to the SRU or who are in the MEB/PEB process by providing ranging from financial counseling to recreational ...Missing: mental | Show results with:mental
[178]
Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness expands resilience ...
Oct 16, 2013 · CSF2 is designed to build resilience and enhance performance of the Army family, which is comprised of Soldiers, their families, and Army civilians.
[179]
What to Know About Suicides in the U.S. Army - The New York Times
Jun 19, 2024 · The Army's suicide rate has risen steadily even in peacetime, and ... At Fort Riley, for example, there are only about 20 mental-health ...
[180]
School can't stop teacher from outing transgender student, judge rules
May 16, 2022 · Fort Riley Middle School math teacher Pamela Ricard sued USD 475 Geary County Schools over LGBTQ anti-discrimination policies that conflicted ...
[181]
USD 475 settles lawsuit over student pronouns - JC Post
Sep 1, 2022 · Pamela Ricard, a former math teacher at Fort Riley Middle School, sued the Geary County School District in March after she was reprimanded and ...
[182]
Local school settles with teacher in pronoun controversy - KSNT
Aug 31, 2022 · GEARY COUNTY (KSNT) – A Fort Riley Middle School teacher was awarded $95000 in damages and attorney's fees after a lawsuit claimed her first ...
[183]
Sgt. George Peterson - Naval History and Heritage Command
Sep 9, 2015 · For his actions, which enabled his company to advance with minimum casualties, Sergeant Peterson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
[184]
George Peterson : Staff Sergeant from New York ... - Honor States
George Peterson. World War II Gold Star Veteran from New York ; Service Branch, Army ; Rank, Staff Sergeant ; Unit/Group, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry ...
[185]
Medal of Honor Recipients to be Recognized - KSAL News
The day begins with a 9 a.m. commemoration ceremony at Victory Park honoring 1st Lt. Walter Will and Staff Sgt. George Peterson, both of whom earned the Medal ...<|separator|>
[186]
April 1942. "Fort Riley, Kansas. G troop of the 10th Cavalry brigade ...
Oct 17, 2025 · Thirteen enlisted men and six officers from these four regiments earned the Medal of Honor during the Indian Wars. In addition to the military ...Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
[187]
Soldier-Champ: Joe Louis sacrificed much for his country - Army.mil
Feb 28, 2014 · When that fell short of his aspirations, he walked away from a life of privilege, enlisted in the Army and plunged himself into the toil of ...
[188]
https://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=2499
[189]
Joe Louis Barrow - Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor
Joe enlisted as a Private in the U.S. Army at ... Louis completed basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was assigned to the Special Services Division.