25-04-2025
Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley gives annual State of Fort Benning address
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — Community leaders and U.S. Army officials gathered at the National Infantry Museum Friday morning. They were there for the annual State of Fort Benning address.
A lot has happened at Fort Benning in the past year, from leadership changes to a name redesignation, innovation upgrades and more.
The U.S. Army installation's current commanding general, Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, addressed what's new on post, including some quantifiable data.
'We have graduated over 64,000 students… that included over 25,000 infantry and armor soldiers,' said Tuley, who took command of Fort Benning – then Fort Moore – in July of 2024.
Also included in that 64,000 were 1,900 armor and infantry officers who graduated from the installation's basic officer courses; 1,400 Ranger-qualified soldiers and 10,000 paratroopers, according to Tuley.
Fort Benning's current commanding general was also quick to address the post's redesignation back to the Benning name, after Sgt. Fred Benning, a Distinguished Service Cross Recipient.
'He was left all alone as an 18-year-old. And he said, 'I will lead this platoon,'' Tuley said, adding, 'That's all he worried about, was those young soldiers just like him to his left and to his right.'
Tuley highlighted Sgt. Benning's humility, courage and commitment to those around him while in service, saying those qualities exemplify what the U.S. Army post hopes to instill in its soldiers.
The redesignation is expected to cost Fort Benning $653,000.
Fort Benning also continues to move forward with a modernization effort, experimenting with technology and human machine integration. On top of new drone tech, combat vehicles and weapons, it has been making changes with its new Maneuver Innovation Lab.
'The Innovation Lab is where we test out new technologies, things from medical, communication, weapons—again—small UAS, it's tested there and experimented here,' Tuley explained.
That lab hosted its inaugural open house in January of this year. It is partnering with Columbus State University students to help solve problems faced by the Army.
Asked about potential workforce reductions, Tuley talked about workforce optimization.
'You can look at it from a lens of reduction, but there is also a lens of, 'How do you optimize?'' said Tuley. 'How do you optimize a way in which [the] robotics and artificial intelligence-enabled programs, or processes, that are actually out there, [to] help … put human beings and people into better and into other positions where we need more folks oriented towards.'
Tuley also emphasized the Columbus community's importance in improving the quality of life of Fort Benning soldiers and their families.
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