FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Fort Bragg's daily bugle calls may be part of military life, but apparently, they're waking up the whole neighborhood.
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Fort Bragg re-introduced the bugle calls last Friday. In the past there was no one speaker system that could broadcast the calls throughout the 32,000 acres used for housing and administration purposes. With the installation of the Giant Voice system last summer, this gave the post the ability to make the calls and using one system.
But not everyone is heralding the bugle's return, according to Tom McCollum, Fort Bragg's public affairs officer.
"The majority of the calls we have received have been very supportive of our efforts to bring these traditional bugle calls back," he said. "We've had 15 callers who complained about the volume of the calls though. Most have been from family members living here and some have come from people living next to us."
McCollum said Wednesday they will tone down the calls to reduce the sound in neighborhoods on post and those surrounding.
Only five of the 21 speakers located throughout the sprawling post will be used now, officials said. And the output on those speakers will be reduced to 300 watts for the 6:15 a.m. "First Call" and 11:00 p.m. "Taps" bugle calls.
More than 19,000 family members live on the post, which is home to more than 51,000 soldiers and has a civilian work population of about 10,000.
The time schedules for weekday bugle calls are:
- First call, 6:15 a.m.
- Reveille, 6:30 a.m.
- First call, 5 p.m.
- Assembly, 5:10 p.m.
- Retreat and to the colors, 5:15 p.m.
- Call to quarters, 10:45 p.m.
- Taps, 11 p.m.
During the weekend and on holidays the schedules for bugle calls are:
- First call, 7:15 a.m.
- Reveille, 7:30 a.m.
- Sunday church call, 9 a.m.
- First call, 5:05 p.m.
- Assembly, 5:10 p.m.
- Retreat and to the colors, 5:15 p.m.
- Call to quarters, 10:45 p.m.
- Taps, 11 p.m.
The base's sound system will also be used to alert the public to any emergency information that needs to be disseminated. The system will use all 21 speakers at its maximum volume of 2400 watts at those times.
"We realize these broadcasts will bleed over into our surrounding communities but that's a good thing," said McCollum. "If we are under a threat, most likely it will not only affect us but those who live and work near us. They need to know what is happening also."
The notifications will be used to warn of natural disasters and attacks, officials said. People should listen to the announcements and follow any instructions.

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