Pope Field, located within the vast boundaries of the U.S. Army’s Fort Liberty near Fayetteville, North Carolina, serves as a critical power projection platform for Air Mobility Command (AMC). Though it operates as an Army Airfield with installation support from Fort Liberty, Pope Field’s primary mission is executed by U.S. Air Force Airmen. Its core function is to provide rapid global mobility and enable the strategic deployment of the nation’s Immediate Response Force (IRF), centered around the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division.

The host Air Force unit, the 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group (43 AMOG), is the linchpin of this joint mission. The 43 AMOG provides command and control, aircraft maintenance, aerial port services, and medical support to ensure that Air Force transport aircraft can seamlessly integrate with Army ground forces for large-scale airborne operations. They are experts at preparing and loading personnel and equipment onto C-17s, C-130s, and other mobility aircraft that arrive at Pope Field to airlift the IRF anywhere in the world on short notice.

This unique and deeply integrated relationship between the Air Force at Pope and the Army at Fort Liberty makes it one of the most vital joint training and deployment centers in the Department of Defense. Pope Field is also home to several specialized Air Force units, including elements of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and combat weather squadrons, which further enhance its role in supporting the joint warfighter.

Personnel and families assigned to Pope Field are part of the massive Fort Liberty community, with access to extensive on-post amenities. They are also integrated into the Fayetteville metro area, a city with a rich military history and a deep patriotic spirit. The high-tempo mission at Pope Field ensures that America’s conventional and special operations forces are always ready to respond to global crises.