ABOUT FDRLO
Mission/Vision/Goals • History • Membership • Leadership

The United States Army 10th Mountain Division was reactivated in 1985. In the fall of 1984, Fort Drum, New York was designated as its home installation. The newly reactivated Division was organized as a Light Infantry unit.

During that period, the citizens of the Tri-County Northern New York region directly impacted by the location of the Division at Fort Drum formed the Fort Drum Steering Council. The primary purpose of the Council was to be a first point of contact between the military and civilian communities. 

The Council was funded through the Office of Economic Adjustment of the Department of Defense and the sponsoring local agencies. The Council was also predisposed to disband when it was determined that its planning role was no longer necessary. The sunset for the Fort Drum Steering Council was determined to be September, 1990.

A New Organization is Formed

The civilian and military communities in the Fort Drum Impact Area felt that a follow-on organization was necessary to keep the lines of communication open between them. Recognizing that various organizations and agencies both on base and off maintain almost daily contact on specific issues and programs, the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization formed as a new point of contact for those issues which transcend the specific missions of any individual organization or agency in either the civilian or military communities.

Original Mission Statement

Consequently, the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization was formed to foster strong positive communications that enhance the interrelationships between military and civilian people who reside in the Fort Drum Region.
Original Goals

In 1990, the Board of Directors of the FDRLO established eight goals to guide their work:

1. Develop better understanding between the military and civilian communities in the Fort Drum Region
2. Secure full participation by military and community leaders in solving problems of mutual concern
3. Provide continuity in community relations in spite of frequent changes in military and community leadership
4. Establish a communication network that will assist military and community leaders in carrying out their mutual responsibilities
5. Develop cooperative agreements that utilize to the fullest the human, financial and physical resources of the military and civilian communities
6. Promote the continued growth and prosperity of the Fort Drum Region
7. Establish a long range vision for cooperation and an agenda for action between the military and civilian components of the community
8. Celebrate our mutual successes and accomplishments.

Growing Together as Neighbors

During the 1990’s, the 10th Mountain Division (LI) adjusted to its new home at Fort Drum (the newest and most modern facilities in the U.S. Army) and the North Country civilian community became more accustomed to daily interactions with its fatigue-clad neighbors. 

The unique manner in which Fort Drum was constructed created many common interests between the military and civilian communities. No schools nor hospitals were built on-post and 2000 housing units were leased from private developers off-post through the 801 housing program. 

FDRLO's John Deans greets President Bush at Ft. Drum

The Division was frequently called upon to answer the call of the President, the commander-in-chief, and, before long, became the most deployed division in the United States Army. Soldiers deployed from Fort Drum for service in Desert Shield/Storm (1990-91), Hurricane Andrew Relief-Florida (1992), Somalia (1992-94), Operation Uphold Democracy - Haiti (1994-95), Operation Joint Guard Bosnia (1997), Task Force Eagle (1998-2000) and most recently after the events of 9-11, it was the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division that first answered the call to Afghanistan. 

With each deployment, the economic ups and downs become more routine and almost predictable for the business community. Family members left behind at Fort Drum soon found that their North Country neighbors truly wanted to help in whatever way possible. School administrators, teachers and parent-teacher organizations learned how best to support the remaining sole parent and the children as military families awaited the return of their deployed soldier-mother or -father.

It was also during this decade that the federal government instituted a series of Base Realignment and Closure rounds. In-depth studies of economic and military value of military installations all around the country were conducted. Military analysts made recommendations for realignments and closures to the Base Realignment and Closure Commissioners and subsequently, communities around the country saw the gates of nearby military installation closed.

The strong commitment to open-door and frequent communication between the 10th Mountain Division’s Command Group and Fort Drum’s Garrison Command and the leadership of the FDRLO helped sustain the North Country during these sometimes dark and uncertain years. FDRLO board members and staff worked with the North Country’s local, state and federal representatives to ensure that Fort Drum did not appear on the BRAC list. The closure of the airfield at Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, New York, some ninety miles south of Jefferson County did impact Fort Drum. It was from this airfield that the Division deployed when called to active duty in service to the nation. Ultimately it was this closure that resulted in the construction of the new runway at Wheeler-Sack Airfield, Ft. Drum, making Fort Drum one of the Army’s Premier Power Projection Platforms.

Today, more than a dozen years after its organization, the FDRLO continues its commitment to open communications and liaison between military and civilian residents of New York’s North Country.