War came unexpectedly to all Americans on December 7, 1941. It came to Stafford in October 1942, when the Marine Corps Base at Quantico required expansion of its training facilities and maneuver areas in.

On October 6, 1942, the U.S. Government formally notified those living in the northernmost one-fifth of Stafford that their lands were to be confiscated within two weeks and to vacate their properties. Some of those families had sent sons to fight in the Civil War, endured Union occupation, and sent sons to Cuba in 1898 and France in 1917-1918. Now they were being dispossessed of their homes and livelihoods. Many homes and large farms were taken as well churches and mills.

“The Rectory” was one of the homes that had to be vacated. This forever changed the face of Stafford County.

Part of the land is now used for the United States Marine Corps’ Basic School (TBS), called Camp Barrett. TBS is where all newly commissioned and appointed (for warrant officers) officers are taught the basics of being an officer of Marines. TBS Officer Basic Course currently lasts 28 weeks, during which new officers are given classroom, field, and practical application training on weapons, tactics, leadership and protocol. Each year over 1,700 new officers are trained.

547 acres of the acquired land has been used for the FBI Academy. Much of the FBI’s training takes place here — from minting new agents and analysts to grooming law enforcement leaders from around the world. The Academy also serves as a premier learning and research center, an advocate for best practices throughout the global criminal justice community, and a place where lasting partnerships are forged among law enforcement and intelligence professionals worldwide.