Setting the scene: the temperature is 35 degrees, and a steady rain is coming down as Special Forces candidates begin their night land navigation course at Camp Mackall, just over the Hoke County line. Each candidate will be moving throughout the night from point to point with a heavy rucksack, made even heavier by the falling rain. Land navigation, long movements, and inclement weather are just some of the hallmarks of the Special Forces Assessment and Selection program that takes place at Camp Mackall. This long-standing process is fundamental to selecting candidates who have the right attributes to become Special Forces soldiers.
Thanks to the Troutman Family and Three Rivers Land Trust, the training that takes place on Camp Mackall will not be impacted by future residential or commercial development. Working in partnership with Fort Bragg and the Department of Defense, Three Rivers Land Trust purchased a permanent conservation easement that covers 589 acres and protects over one mile of shared border with Camp Mackall.
“This conservation easement will ensure that robust, realistic training can be done at Camp Mackall without impacting nearby neighbors,” states Barry Hull, Sandhills conservation coordinator for Three Rivers Land Trust. “The land in the conservation easement will remain undeveloped, which is great for the existing longleaf forest ecosystem and the long-term water quality of Drowning Creek. It is a big win for the Army and conservation.”…