BRAC 2005 Military Facilities Closure
William Boyd
BRAC 2005: In a report to Congress SECDEF Donald H. Rumsfeld certified
that the military has about 24% of excess base capacity to support the
armed forces. The Army has the most that need to be closed (about 29%),
followed by the Air Force (about 24%) and the Navy/USMC at about 21%).
His report states that if the 2005 round of base closures produces a 20%
reduction, DOD would see a net savings of about $5 billion by 2011 and
reoccurring annual savings of about $8 billion. The four previous base
closure rounds now save our military $6.6 billion dollars each year.
Nevertheless, there is a movement to derail the next round of base
closures by convincing people it is cheaper to keep all bases open and
lease land to earn money; thus expanding what is known as Government
Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) facilities. This robs local communities
of business property taxes and rarely produces net profits as cozy
relationships result in contracts in which the government still pays for
property maintenance. Small military bases are inefficient to operate
since each base usually has a housing office, equal opportunity office,
public affairs, chapel, library, auto shop, medical clinic, dental
clinic, commissary, exchange, base headquarters, base security, decal
office, fitness center, reception center, swimming pool, child care
center, enlisted club, officer club, teen club, family support center,
temporary lodging, education center, dining hall, maintenance office,
golf course, theater, post office, and various recreational facilities.
Therefore, shifting "tenant" units to larger bases with room for growth
saves a great deal of money and manpower in the long run, although
moving units requires money for relocation and some new construction.
Reserve, National Guard, and federal civilian activities at closed bases
can continue as they do elsewhere without a military landlord. Base
closures also allow the elimination of outdated organizations which have
been preserved as jobs programs by members of Congress
The 2005 round will begin in March 2005 when the President, in
consultation with congressional leaders, will appoint the nine-member
base closing commission. Two months later on 16 May, the defense
secretary will submit his list of facilities to be closed. It will take
seven members to add a facility to that list, but just a simple majority
to remove a facility. The President may approve that list and send it to
Congress, or reject it and send it back to the commission. Neither
Congress nor the President can make changes to the list. If he accepts
the list, it becomes law unless Congress votes against it within 45
days. This has never happened since Congressmen from districts spared
closures think the list is fair.
Army bases currently proposed for realignment or closure in 2005
include:
Carlisle Barracks PA, Detroit Arsenal MI, Fort Belvoir VA, Fort
Buchanan PR, Fort McPherson/Gillem GA, Fort Monmouth NJ, Fort Monroe
VA, Fort Polk LA (to realign), Fort Richardson AK, Fort Sam Houston
TX, Fort Shafter HI, Lima Army Tank Plant OK, Natick Soldier Center
MA, Picatinny Arsenal NJ, Redstone Arsenal AL, Rock Island Arsenal
IL, Sierra Army Depot CA, and Yuma Proving Ground AZ. Arizona
Air Force bases currently proposed for realignment or closure in 2005
include:
Altus AFB OK, Beale AFB CA, Brooks AFB TX, Cannon AFB NM, *Columbus
AFB MS, Ellsworth AFB SD, Goodfellow AFB TX, Grand Forks AFB ND,
Hanscom AFB MA, Kirtland AFB NM, Los Angeles AFB CA, McConnell AFB KS,
Nellis AFB NV (to realign), Seymour Johnson AFB NC (to realign), Shaw
AFB SC, and Vance AFB OK.
Naval bases currently proposed for realignment or closure in 2005
include:
Ingleside Naval Station TX, Naval Postgraduate School CA, Naval Air
Station Meridian MS, Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst NJ, Naval
Recreation Station Solomons Island MD, Naval Surface Warfare Center
Crane IN, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division VA, Navy
Supply Corps School GA, New Orleans Naval Support Activity LA,
Pascagoula Naval Station MS, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard NH, and
Saratoga Springs Naval Support Unit NY.
Naval bases currently proposed for realignment or closure in 2005
include:
Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany GA, Marine Corps Logistics Base
Barstow CA (to realign), Marine Corps Air Station Miramar CA, Marine
Corps Mountain Warfare School CA, Marine Reserve Support Unit, Kansas
City MO, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego CA (realign or close).
For more information about the DOD position concerning BRAC refer to
www.defenselink.mil/brac [Source: NAUS Update 26 MAR 04, S&T Resources
and Program Development, ++]
Jaberwokie
Perhaps they think the UN will handle our military needs?