History
Milestones in Advocate Drum's Story
The Beginning
The U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division was reactivated in 1985, with Fort Drum, New York, chosen as its home installation in the fall of 1984. The Division was initially organized as a Light Infantry unit. During this period, the Tri-County region’s citizens, directly impacted by the Division’s presence, established the Fort Drum Steering Council. This Council’s primary role was to serve as the first point of contact between the military and civilian communities.
Funded by the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment and local agencies, the Council was set to disband when its planning role was no longer deemed necessary, officially ending in September 1990.
Milestones in Advocate Drum's Story
Strengthening Fort Drum. Strengthening Our Region.
Working to secure the future of Fort Drum while strengthening the economic vitality and quality of life of the entire region.
Planned
- Housing Community supported Section 801Housing, Tri-County, HUD financing
- Healthcare Community hospitals supported growth; no hospital built on base
- Education Community schools supported growth; no school built on base
- Infrastructure Community supported water, sewer, solid waste, and transportation
A New Organization Forms
Original Mission and Goals
In 1990, the Advocate Drum Board of Directors outlined eight goals to guide the organization’s mission:
- Promote better understanding between the military and civilian sectors of the Fort Drum region.
- Foster collaboration between military and community leaders to address shared concerns.
- Ensure continuity in community relations amid frequent leadership changes.
- Establish a robust communication network to support mutual responsibilities.
- Develop cooperative agreements leveraging the human, financial, and physical resources of both communities.
- Support the continued growth and prosperity of the Fort Drum region.
- Create a long-term vision for cooperation between military and civilian components.
- Celebrate mutual successes and
accomplishments.
Growing Together as Neighbors
The 1990s marked a period of mutual adjustment between Fort Drum and the local community. Fort Drum’s unique construction created shared interests, particularly as no schools or hospitals were built on-post. Around 2,000 housing units were leased off-post via the 801 housing program.
As the Division became the most deployed in the U.S. Army, local businesses and residents grew accustomed to the cyclical nature of military deployments, while also learning how to support the families left behind. Despite the challenges, the military and civilian communities grew closer, united in their support for each other.
The 1990s also saw the introduction of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) rounds, and Advocate Drum played a key role in protecting Fort Drum from closure by working closely with local, state, and federal representatives. The closure of Griffiss Air Force Base led to the construction of a new runway at Wheeler-Sack Airfield, further solidifying Fort Drum’s importance as a strategic military installation.
Positioned
With the Steering Council sunset in 1990, the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization (FDRLO) was created as a
(501(c) 4) volunteer membership organization to carry on the mission.
- FDRLO rebranded as "Advocate Drum" in 2018 to more succinctly reflect who we are and what we do.
- Membership includes 240+ businesses and individuals from the Tri-County and CNY area.
- Board of Directors (25) comprised of community leaders from diverse professional fields, representing Fort Drum, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
- Operating committees consist of Board Members and Community Partners.
- Executive Directors have served on the North Country Regional Economic Development Council; Watertown-Jefferson County Area Transportation Council Committees; Jefferson County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee; and Fort Drum Joint Land Use Study Steering Committee, Technical Working Group, and Compatibility Committee.
Proven
Serves as the unified voice and trusted advocate for Fort Drum and the North Country community. By convening military, government, business, education, labor, and community leaders, Advocate Drum creates strategic partnerships that strengthen mission readiness, improve quality of life, and advance regional economic prosperity.
- Defense of Fort Drum. Successfully led seven community efforts to protect Fort Drum from major threats of troop reductions. These included five Base Realignment and Closure rounds (1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, & 2005). We subsequently led the community responses to a 2013 Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and a 2015 Supplemental PEA, looking toward the Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment. Where the 2015 SPEA considered cuts of up to 16,000 troops, Fort Drum only lost a net of 28 soldiers. Our 2015 efforts included a tour and presentations to Pentagon officials, a community rally of 5,000+ people, and the collection of over 30,000 petition signatures.
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Enhancing Fort Drum's Military Value.
- 2004 – Facilitated community investments to meet the increased demands (housing, education, & healthcare) associated with stationing the 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Fort Drum.
- 2005 – Partnered with JCEDC to secure NYS funding of Fort Drum Railhead Siding.
- 2007 – Partnered with the Tug Hill Commission and Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust in securing NYS matching funds for the Army Compatible Use Buffer program.
- 2009 – Established Growth Management Task Force and developed Fort Drum Growth Management Strategy; provided training for local planning and zoning officials.
- Assisted in highlighting the need and securing NYS funding for Interstate I-781, opened in December 2012.
- 2016 – Facilitated and secured funding for NYS Route 26 Intersection at Fort Drum and Bomporto Bridge connection the main cantonment to Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.
- 2016 – Led regional campaign to secure Fort Drum as the preferred site for future East Coast Missile Defense Project. Collected over 10,000 petition signatures to demonstrate community support.
- 2022 – Led regional campaign to secure Fort Drum as the preferred site for a Multi-Domain Task Force.
- Enhancing Military Value of the Community.
- 2005 – Assisted in the creation of the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization.
- 2008 – Created 'Drum Country Business, ' a regional marketing initiative, among FDRLO, the Industrial Development Agencies of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties, the Development Authority of the North Country, and National Grid.
- 2011 – Launched a Public Transportation and Mobility study.
- 2014 – Facilitated New York State adopting the Interstate Compact on Education Opportunity for Military Children.
- 2018 – FDRLO Education Survey - validate and measure the high-quality education provided for military and civilian children.
- 2019 – North Country receives the Great American Defense Community Award.
- 2019 – Partnered with the Fort Drum Transition Assistance Program to provide employer tours at Fort Drum to observe Soldiers' relevant workplace skills firsthand.
- 2020 – NYS Final Approval of the Transitional J Certificate for military spouses who are teachers.
- 2020 – Assisted in securing $9 million DCIP Grant for the Watertown YMCA Community & Aquatic Center.
- 2023 – Supported the organization of an Army Career Day event at Fort Drum for tri-county school districts.
- 2025 – Kicked off the Live, Love Stay program – an element of the Next Move NY initiative to more strongly connect Soldiers and military spouses to the region; thereby encouraging them to stay when separating from service and add their talents to the regional workforce.
Facing 21st Century Challenges
The Army’s and Soldiers’
first choice.
A vibrant and attractive
community for all residents.
A region that meets
the needs of both military
families and civilians.
As the 2005 BRAC round approached, Advocate Drum took immediate action, forming a BRAC Steering Group, “Drum 2020,” to advocate for Fort Drum’s continued presence. With strong community backing, extensive advocacy, and strategic presentations to decision-makers, Advocate Drum succeeded in ensuring Fort Drum’s future.
Housing Needs and Community Growth
Following the 2005 BRAC success, Advocate Drum continued to focus on housing and economic development. With the expansion of Fort Drum, the demand for off-post housing increased significantly. Advocate Drum facilitated efforts to meet this demand, securing funding from state and local sources and supporting the creation of new housing projects like the Creek Wood development in Watertown.
Advocate Drum also spearheaded efforts to address the needs of soldiers’ families, focusing on expanding rental housing options and promoting long-term residential community growth. The organization’s proactive approach led to the creation of over 690 new rental units, with more in the works to meet future demands driven by the military’s deployment cycles.
Sustaining Progress
As Advocate Drum’s leadership transitioned in 2011, Keith Caughlin took over as chair and continued the organization’s commitment to improving housing availability for soldiers and their families. The need for additional housing remained a priority, with ongoing studies and new initiatives aimed at expanding rental options to accommodate the growing population.
Through federal support, including grants from the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment, Advocate Drum has maintained a focus on growth management, economic development, and the well-being of the Fort Drum region’s residents, ensuring continued prosperity for both the military and civilian communities.
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