[CSB]

As in most major decisions, there were a number of factors:

1 - Yes, Ft. Campbell sits like a CH-47 Chinook on the state line between Kentucky and Tennessee. See map. That means two state's worth of Senators and Representatives.

2 - Ft. Campbell was the home of the 160th SOAR, newly designated as such from the former "Task Force 160," and would be working with them not only for operations, but also for development of doctrine and procedures.

3 - It is easier to take a complete, well established SF Group with full TO & E and move them to Ft. Campbell. That maintains unit integrity, and puts them in an immediately deployable mode as soon as they are wheels down. Standing up 3rd SF Group at Ft. Campbell would be far from the Ft. Bragg / JFK Center flagpole, and with the pipeline (personnel and logistics) and school house far away. Better to stand up a new group in the shadow of the schoolhouse and have the personnel and assets expertise to spin them up to C1 quickly.

4 - Whether or not "becoming a branch" factored into the mix, I don't know. I know SF as a separate branch was being seriously discussed as early as 1982, so it seems a long time to have had any effect on a base change in 1986.

5 - Ft. Campbell does have a tradition of airborne operations, dating back to the gliders, and airborne of the 101st Airborne Division. It has at least nine drop zones not being used for much since the 101st went leg in the 1970's.

6 - There are plenty of Uwarrie type off post training areas, including Land Between the Lakes just off the western end of the reservation.