Ozark is proud to be known as the “Home of Fort Rucker” and is proud to be community partners with the 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment. Residents of Ozark see each incoming military family as an exciting opportunity to meet new people, show off the area’s famous southern hospitality, learn about new friends and hear stories about their families and travels. Many times we are blessed with the return of these families to our community when they are ready to put down roots, allowing us to reconnect with old friends.
Fort Rucker is the primary flight training base for U.S. Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and the United States Army Aviation Museum.
Officially opened on May 1, 1942, as Camp Rucker, it served as a training base for thousands of officers and enlisted personnel during World War II. Shortly after opening, the base was expanded to include an airfield that was designated Ozark Army Airfield. Troops trained at Camp Rucker fought in both the European and Pacific theaters during World War II.
Camp Rucker was inactive from March 1946 until August 1950, but was reopened during the Korean War. After another short deactivation, it was again reopened and expanded as a helicopter training base. The name was officially changed to Fort Rucker in October 1955. Four years later, Ozark Army Airfield was renamed Cairns Army Airfield.
Today, the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence is the predominant military facility at Fort Rucker, training and educating over 23,000 Army Aviation soldiers and leaders annually. Fort Rucker’s infrastructure includes four air bases, 14 staging fields and 72 remote training sites covering over 29,000 square miles in southern Alabama and northern Florida.
Fort Rucker covers about 64,500 acres of countryside in an area known as the “Wiregrass.”
Fort Rucker MRW provides many recreational activities and services that are available to surrounding communities. Participating in and enjoying these amenities are a great way to meet and get to know our military neighbors.