SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Army’s decision to merge Army North and Army South commands, both based in San Antonio, into the new “Western Hemisphere Command” at Fort Bragg, N.C., has sparked concerns among local leaders.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George announced the restructuring on Tuesday, stating, “We will actually have down at Fort Bragg, will be that four-star headquarters that is responsible for the Western Hemisphere, and Army North and Army South will merge into that headquarters as well, to make sure that we are condensing headquarters.”
South Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales expressed his apprehension about the potential impact on San Antonio’s infrastructure and economy. “We should be adding missions to our community, not taking them away,” Gonzales said. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong local economy, especially with the upcoming addition of a new arena. “We don’t want our economy to be impacted by this. We’re about to get this new arena, you know, and we don’t want our economy to be negative and negatively impacted at all,” he added.
The exact number of personnel who may need to relocate remains uncertain, with earlier estimates suggesting a few hundred, though this has not been confirmed. The timeline for the move is also unclear, with Gen. George indicating it is expected to occur in six to eight weeks.
U.S. Army North has pledged transparency, stating, “We remain committed to transparency and will provide updates as decisions are finalized.” Congressman Gonzales is advocating for San Antonio’s interests, stating, “San Antonio needs to be a winner in this…. we can’t be silent, if you will. We can’t be on the sidelines.”