Now that major military operations have ended overseas, this is the first time in two decades that the 10th Mountain Division hasn’t had soldiers deployed.

That means all soldiers and their families are now home, and because Fort Drum is not self-sustaining — it depends on the North Country for major needs such as health care and education — the entire North Country is working to ensure everyone is ready for the population boom.

What You Need To Know

  • Now that military operations have ended overseas, all Fort Drum soldiers and their families are now in the North Country

  • Jefferson County says it has four priorities to ensure soldiers have the best experience: Education, healthcare, jobs and recreation.

  • The county is also working with other communities to show soldiers all their is to do in the North Country and beyond

“The three main priorities soldiers and their families have are education, health care and job opportunities,” Jefferson County Board of Legislators Chair Scott Gray said.

Over the last 18 months, Jefferson County Board of Legislators Chair Scott Gray has been hard at work dealing with the county’s COVID-19 problem, but more so behind the scenes, he’s also focused on another issue the North Country hasn’t dealt with in some time: population.

Fort Drum’s deployments are over, so all of its soldiers and their families — which often head back home while a loved one is overseas — are all here and all have various needs.

Gray says the county and post have been working to ensure everyone is ready to tackle those three main priorities. Fort Drum doesn’t have a school, so the need is for both soldiers and their families.

“The [schools] that are in close proximity to the base do an exceptional job to accommodate soldiers, their families and the different requirements they have coming form different areas,” said Gray.

When it comes to health care, unlike most installations, there’s no hospital on post either. The North Country has more than a handful.

“The quality of health care is just that much better,” Gray said of the ability of multiple hospitals in the area. “The offerings and services are just that much greater.”

The county has also been working to ensure those family members that need jobs while here, have access or maybe even the opportunity to go out on their own.

“We have a lot to offer. It also helps with out entrepreneurialism, those that want to open a business,” Gray added. “The opportunities are out there."

Opportunities that also include recreation and activities, like state parks, beaches, whitewater rafting, skiing and more. There’s something for everyone at any time. It’s a critical part in ensuring military families enjoy their time here.

“Four seasons is more of an opportunity for us because there’s a lot of people that come here from other areas, southern areas of the United States. They not even know what a snowboard is," said Gray.

Gray says the county is also working with local communities just outside the local map, such as Lake Placid, to help grow awareness of what they have to offer, such as the Adirondacks, the high peaks and the Olympic village. They're things Gray says soldiers and their families should know about.

As for one other issue the North Country had faced as Fort Drum grew: housing. Gray says the North Country — thanks to its work over the last 10 years — has plenty of space for everyone.