COLLECTIONS
Fort Benning, Georgia
Camp Benning, GA, was founded Oct. 7, 1918. Both the artillery and infantry schools had been at Fort Sill, OK, but the need for a larger Army in World War I meant that there was not room for both schools at Fort Sill, so the Infantry School of Arms moved to Georgia. Camp Benning was renamed Fort Benning in 1922.
Lt. Col. George Marshall became the assistant commandant of the Infantry School in 1927. Using what he had learned in World War I, he rewrote the training, emphasizing adaptability and critical thinking.
In 1936, the 2nd Armored Division under Brig. Gen. Patton was activated at Fort Benning. In the 1940s, the Infantry Officer Candidate School was established. Also, a new way of delivering soldiers to the battlefield was developed – first called “vertical envelopment,” later “airborne,” paratroopers were trained at Fort Benning.
During the Korean War, Army Ranger School was established at Fort Benning. In the 1960s, a new type of airborne soldier was developed using helicopters – air assault.
The Infantry School runs the Airborne Course, Ranger Course, the Snipers Course, Officers Candidate School, and the Infantry Basic Officers Leadership Course.
To find other items that the Marshall Foundation has on Fort Benning, search “Fort Benning” or “Infantry School” in the library catalog: https://www.marshallfoundation.org/library/results/
Digitized items in the George C. Marshall archives:
