The new Human Platform Force Generation (FORGE) Facility at Fort Liberty is the fourth building that completes the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Campus at Fort Liberty. The purpose of the FORGE facility is to improve special operation soldiers’ health and performance on and off the battlefield. The state-of-the-art facility helps special operations soldiers get stronger – both mentally and physically.
“We're going to be able to tailor our training and our care of these soldiers across their career, so that we optimize their ability to perform, but we also take care of them as a total person.” —Jim Arp, FORGE Deputy Director for Human Development
Humans are More Important than Hardware
When soldiers walk into the building, they see 40,000 square-feet of physical training and conditioning space housed in a pre-engineered, high-bay structure. They also see one of the Special Operation Forces “truths” that “Humans are more important than the hardware” painted on the glass of a large display case. The facility embodies this belief. A team of specialized coaches and experts will work with soldiers using a wide variety of equipment. In addition to strength and conditioning, training will also help soldiers prevent injuries.
Rehabilitation and Holistic Services
A separate section of the FORGE facility focuses on rehabilitation services leading to faster recovery after combat or training injuries. The facility features a holistic program led by physical therapists, counselors, dieticians, cognitive coaches, and interpersonal experts. Classrooms support education for performance nutrition including an area to prepare meals, clinical space, and areas for family counseling or financial classes.
A synthetic training environment on the second floor uses cutting-edge training methods such as simulations, augmented and virtual reality, and biometric and neurological sensors. Soldiers learn how to connect with others, negotiate and resolve conflicts, read verbal and nonverbal cues, and be adaptive and resilient.
Partnerships with industries, professional sports and academia bring the latest technologies and innovations to enhance special operation forces.
Building Systems and Strategies
The building and site were designed using low impact development strategies. The building systems include fire detection and suppression, energy management control integrated to match the local system, unclassified and classified communications networks, surveillance, and electronic access control. The design and construction follow high performance and sustainable building requirements.
