Fort Benning

U.S. Army Fort Benning and The Maneuver Center of Excellence

Fort Benning Public Affairs Site

Community Relations

The Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning Community Relations Team provides outreach support to communities throughout West Central Georgia, East Central Alabama and beyond. Opportunities include:

  • Self-guided group tours
  • Veteran group reunion visits
  • Educator tours
  • JROTC visits
  • Guest speakers
  • Silver Wings Parachute Demonstration Team
  • Color Guards
  • Maneuver Center of Excellence Band

The following events are open to the public (*Note installation visitors pass or valid military identification card is required for all events on post):

  • Rangers in Action demonstration and Ranger Course graduations at Hurley Hill
  • Infantry One Station Unit Training, or OSUT, graduations at Inouye Field behind the National Infantry Museum
  • Armor OSUT graduations at Brave Rifles Field on Harmony Church
  • Basic Airborne Course graduations at Eubanks Field
  • Basic Airborne Course jump week observations on Fryer Drop Zone
  • Contact the National Infantry Museum for guided and self-guided tours

Tours and visits

Each year Fort Benning hosts dozens of tour groups and on the installation. The MCoE is one of the busiest Army installations in the world as more than 16,700 military trainees are in training each week. As a result, requesting, planning and coordinating must be done at least six months prior to your visit/tour proposed date. Visits must not incur any cost to government and we are unable to provide transportation and tour guides.

Veteran Groups

We honor and value the service and commitment of our veterans and will do our best to accommodate tour groups. The Columbus, Georgia Visitors’ Bureau also provides an excellent resource for veterans groups interested the area, visit Military Reunions Made Easy to learn more.

JROTC visits

Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or JROTC, visits are coordinated though the MCoE G-3 Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization & Security. This department manages all Reserve component training support.

Educator tours

Educators' tours allow first- and second-line influencers from schools across the nation the opportunity to learn firsthand how the MCoE transforms civilians into highly-trained Soldiers, ready to fight and win. If you’re an educator and interested in visiting us, reach out and work with your regional recruiting command to coordinate, fund and execute tours. In many cases your local recruiter will manage Educator Tour requests. If not, please follow the instructions below to request your visit. NOTE: Please allow a minimum of six months to ensure proper coordination and funding.

How to schedule tours and visits

  • Fill out a Request Form, at least 90 days before your requested visit/event.
    • The Maneuver Center of Excellence can support events as long as the request falls within the purview of Army regulations.
    • To support your request, the MCoE cannot incur any cost when supporting events.
  • Email the completed form to the Community Relations Division at: usarmy.moore.mcoe.mbx.engagements@army.mil
  • If you have question about the form and/or your request, send an email to: usarmy.moore.imcom.mbx.pao@army.mil

Seeking an Army asset?

Citizens and civic organizations often want Army participation in their community events – such as a military band, color guard, exhibits, or a speaker. Maneuver Center of Excellence assets can participate in certain events as long as they are available and the request falls within the purview of Army regulations. To support your request, the MCoE cannot incur any cost when supporting events. To request an Army asset, follow the process below.

NOTE: Due to budget constraints, the MCoE does not host regularly, reoccurring live fire exercises open to the public, nor can the public observe these types of training. Typically, these types opportunities are available during Infantry and Armor weeks in the spring.

Maneuver Center of Excellence Band and Non-aviation support requests

For over 50 years, the Maneuver Center of Excellence Band (283d Army Band) has taken great pride in entertaining the Soldiers, military Families and civilians of the Fort Benning, Columbus, and Phenix City communities. The Band's performances create esprit de corps among Soldiers and veterans, as well as provide patriotic spirit within the civilian community.

The MCoE Band is organized for ceremonial and traditional purposes and to support recruiting activities. However, they may be authorized to provide certain specified presentations, such as patriotic ceremonies during public programs. Please note, they are not permitted to provide entertainment, background, dinner, dance, or other social music at public or private events in competition with the customary or regular employment of local civilian musicians.

As a general rule of thumb the MCoE Band can only travel 150 miles round trip (75/75) locally, to support a community event. During holidays the MCoE Band is tasked with several military functions and local community partnership events. One station unit training and basic training graduations take priority on Thursday and Friday mornings. For information about other military bands or to find a band located near your event, visit Army Bands. To request the MCoE Band, follow the process below.

How to request an Army asset

  • Fill out a Request Form at least 90 days before your requested event.
    • Citizens and civic organizations often want Army participation in their community events – such as a military band, color guard, exhibits or a speaker. Maneuver Center of Excellence assets can participate in certain events as long as they are available and the request falls within the purview of Army regulations.
    • To support your request, the MCoE cannot incur any cost when supporting events.
  • Email the completed form to the Community Relations Division at: usarmy.moore.mcoe.mbx.engagements@army.mil
  • If you have question about the form and/or your request, send an email to: usarmy.moore.imcom.mbx.pao@army.mil

Silver Wings

The training, development and safety of The Silver Wings perform live aerial demonstrations supporting the U.S. Army and MCoE public relations and recruiting efforts. Each member of the Silver Wings is a qualified parachutist with both military and civilian parachuting/freefall experience.

Formed in 1965 by the director of the Airborne Department, the team traces its origins back to 1958 as members of the Airborne-Air Mobility Command. The Silver Wings have inspired countless airborne students, supported demonstrations around the U.S. and have been ambassadors of the U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course, the MCoE, Fort Benning, and the U.S. Army.

To request the Silver Wings, please follow the process below. NOTE: Completed request packets for the Silver Wings Parachute Demonstration Team must be received 90 days prior to the requested execution date.

For information about the Golden Knights Parachute Team visit https://www.goarmy.com/golden-knights

How to request the Silver Wings

  • Call 706-545-8471 | 706-545-7708 to check event date availability.
  • Complete and sign the Request for Military Aerial Support or, DD Form 2535 This form must be completed and signed by the sponsoring organization, reviewed and completed by the local FAA, and certified by the "owner" of the event site. Click here for instructions on filling out the DD 2535.
  • Get approval from the local Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office. Visit the Federal Aviation Administration to find your local area FSDO. Federal Aviation Administration coordination is not required for aerial events in Canada or Mexico or for static displays only. The FAA local to your event must also complete section IV of the DD Form 2535.
  • Submit the completed form to: usarmy.moore.mcoe.mbx.engagements@army.mil
  • If you have question about the form and/or your request, send an email to: usarmy.moore.imcom.mbx.pao@army.mil

Things to keep mind in mind

Our priorities are training, developing, and ensuring the safety of our Soldiers. Visitors to the installation may not detract from and/or affect unit training schedules. If your request is approved, itineraries are subject to change based on unit training schedules during your requested dates.

Please understand our Soldiers have specific missions and training requirements. Participation in public programs can only be authorized when such support is in the best interests of the U.S. Army and the MCoE. The support must not interfere with unit mission or training programs. In all cases, military commitments must take priority and can even cause previously scheduled appearances to be cancelled on relatively short notice.

Transportation and accommodations

Groups must provide their own transportation and accommodations. The MCoE does not provide any form of transportation, nor can we endorse any off post accommodations. Contact the Columbus Visitors Bureau at 706-322-1613 for a list of off post options. It is highly recommended large groups use commercial buses and smaller groups use large vans for transportation. Groups using multiple personally-owned vehicles run the risk of someone getting lost while transitioning the installation.

Meals

Tour groups may request to eat at Dining Facilities, or DFACs on the installation. Although most groups are generally approved, there are exceptions. Groups should be smaller than 50 persons and will need to arrive at a specified time to ensure Soldiers receive priority. The standard fees for meals at the DFAC are (subject to change):

Breakfast: $4.35
Lunch: $7.00
Dinner: $6.05

Meals must be paid for with cash or check. It is recommended the group designates a person to consolidate all monies and pay as a group, versus individually; this ensures everyone gets through the lines quickly without affecting Soldiers’ meal times. Receipts can be provided upon request by the cashier if needed.

No cost to the government

Department of Defense policies require that Armed Forces participation in public events be provided at no additional cost to the government. The sponsor is required to pay, when necessary, the standard military services allowance for quarters and meals for all Armed Forces participants and for other services which have been determined in advance and agreed to by the sponsor.

Questions?

Contact our Community Relations Division at 706-545-2236 or email us at: usarmy.moore.imcom.mbx.pao@army.mil