Fort A.P facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fort A.P. Hill
Caroline County, Virginia
Photo of the U.S. Army Garrison Fort A.P. Hill front sign on Route 301, in Virginia in the spring.
Fort A.P. Hill Location of Fort A.P. Hill
Coordinates	38°07′04″N 77°16′35″W / 38.11778°N 77.27639°W / 38.11778; -77.27639
Type	Military base
Site information
Controlled by	United States Army
Site history
Built	June 11, 1941
In use	1941—present
Garrison information
Current commander	Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Q. Jordan
Past commanders	Lieutenant Colonel David A. Meyer Lieutenant Colonel Peter E. Dargle Lieutenant Colonel John W. Haefner Lieutenant Colonel Michael S. Graese Lieutenant Colonel James M. Mis Lieutenant Colonel James B. Balocki

Fort A.P. Hill is a special training place for the United States Army. It is located near Bowling Green, Virginia. This center helps soldiers and other military groups practice their skills. It is used by all parts of the U.S. Armed Forces. The fort is named after A. P. Hill, a famous general from Virginia.

History of Fort A.P. Hill

General A. P. Hill, who the fort is named after.

In 1940, the U.S. Army planned to create a large army. They needed a big area for training. Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Marston found a good spot in Caroline County, Virginia. This area was about 77,332 acres (313 square kilometers). It had places for many officers and soldiers to stay.

Fort A.P. Hill officially opened on June 11, 1941. In its first year, it was used for large army exercises. Three National Guard divisions also trained here. In 1942, the fort was a meeting point for Major General George S. Patton's troops. They were preparing for the Allied invasion of French North Africa during World War II. The fort continued to be a major training site during the war.

During the Korean War, Fort A.P. Hill was called Camp A.P. Hill. It was a key place for troops getting ready to go to Europe. This included the VII Corps Headquarters. Later, during the Vietnam War, it was a main center for Engineer Officer Candidate School training.

In 2011, a new training center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) was finished. This center teaches soldiers how to handle explosives safely. It is named after Captain Jason McMahon, who died in Afghanistan.

A large training center for the U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group opened in 2014. This center cost $90.1 million. It has barracks, training areas, and shooting ranges. It helps different parts of the U.S. Armed Forces train together. The fort also hosts training for friendly countries.

Training at Fort A.P. Hill

Soldiers doing a road march at the fort in 2013.

Fort A.P. Hill is used all year for military training. Active and reserve troops from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force train here.

Students from ROTC also train at the fort. Other government groups use it too. These include the Departments of State and Interior. Even U.S. Customs and Border Protection and local law enforcement agencies train here.

Images for kids

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  Fort A.P Hill during the 2010 Boy Scout Jamboree.

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  Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.