FORT DRUM — Area history buffs are meeting regularly on post as part of a discussion group for topics relating to the north country's military past.

"There were a number of folks who expressed an interest in military history," said Douglas R. Cubbison, command historian for the 10th Mountain Division.

Many of them participate in the Fort Drum History Roundtable.

The group of about 10 to 12 members, military and civilian, meets once a month at Fort Drum's Heritage Center to hear a presentation and then discuss the chosen topic.

"Everybody brings a little bit, something different," said Kent A. Bolke, Fort Drum's historical collection curator.

He said the group has been meeting for about a year, discussing topics ranging from the 10th Mountain Division's World War II deployments to the French and Indian War in the north country.

"They all relate somehow, some way to Fort Drum, the surrounding area, or the 10th Mountain Division," Mr. Bolke said.

Mr. Cubbison said the group does not receive any funding from Fort Drum, other than the ability to use the Heritage Center for meetings.

The group met Tuesday to watch a documentary called "Muslims Against Jihad: Voices from the Muslim Center," directed and produced by Martyn Burke, about moderate Muslims' struggle to deal with the extremists in their religion.

The group decided to watch the film because it relates to current world events and deals with issues soldiers may face while on deployments.

"It's actually quite interesting and certainly relevant to what our soldiers are doing today," Mr. Cubbison said.

According to Mr. Bolke, this was one of the group's more serious topics.

"They're not always so heavy," he said.

Next month, the group will meet May 6 at the Heritage Center to view and discuss the local documentary "Little Ditch: The Black River Canal," by R. David White and son Matthew A. White, of 4th Coast Productions, Sackets Harbor.

For more information on the group, call the Fort Drum Heritage Center at 774-0355.