Clarksville Mayor Says Soldiers Missed by Community, Less by Economy

Kim McMillan is mayor of Clarksville. Photo by Blake Farmer/WPLN

Fort Campbell is packing up for another round of deployments – albeit smaller than the last. The city of Clarksville has become more economically resilient since troops first began shipping out to Afghanistan.

In 2001, Fort Campbell soldiers started trickling out of the country. Since then, the 101st Airborne Division has gone through six rotations, at times leaving only a few thousand troops behind. For local businesses, the deployment cycle has created an economic roller coaster they’ve learned to ride.

Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan says that’s changed somewhat as the city has diversified its economy in recent years.

“We don’t notice as much in the economy when they’re gone. But we notice in the personal aspects because those soldiers and everyone out at Fort Campbell mean so much to our community, we just hate it when they’re gone and we’re glad when they’re coming back.”

The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade has already cased its colors, a ceremony comparable to turning off the lights before leaving town. Right on their heels is the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, nicknamed the Rakkasans. Both will be gone for nine-months, which is a shorter stint than previous deployments. But soldiers also won’t get to come home on 30-day breaks as they previously did.