May 13, 2005
Friday

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced today that the department's recommendations to close or realign military facilities in the United States will better position U.S. forces to confront this century's threats. The recommendation, if fully implemented, will generate an estimated net savings of nearly $50 billion over the next two decades. When combined with the anticipated savings from overseas basing realignments around the world, the projected net savings increases to $64.2 billion.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld talk with reporters in the Pentagon, May 12, 2005, about the process by which the Base Realignment and Closure Commission has made its decisions regarding the fate of military installations across the country. The commission has the mandate to reduce excess capacity in the Department of Defense involving owned or leased properties in order to ultimately save money. Rumsfeld acknowledged it was a contentious undertaking with feelings running high in many communities, but said the decisions were necessary for the future well being of the U.S. military. Defense Dept. photo by R. D. Ward

"Our current arrangements, designed for the Cold War, must give way to the new demands of the war against extremism and other evolving 21st Century challenges," Rumsfeld said.

The department's BRAC recommendations, if adopted, would close 33 major bases including Alaska's Kulis Air Guard Station. The BRAC recommendations would realign 29 more - including Alaska's Air Force bases and the Fort Richardson Army Post in Anchorage.

The BRAC recommendations were developed in a process that began in 2001, with the initiation of a review of how U.S. forces were arrayed overseas. Prospective changes to the department's global posture were fed into the analysis and recommendations. As a result, forces coming home will return to installations better arrayed to train and deploy for possible contingencies around the world.

The department's BRAC recommendations were developed by the military services and seven joint cross-service groups in consultation with the combatant commanders. Each recommendation was created under the procedures established in the Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, as amended. The BRAC analysis started with the 20-Year Force Structure Plan and the department's inventory of facilities, and then applied BRAC selection criteria that had been published early in 2004.

These criteria give paramount importance to an installation's military value. Other considerations included costs of potential savings, and economic and environmental impacts of potential changes. The BRAC analysis used data that was certified accurate in a process monitored by the Government Accountability Office and the department's inspection and audit agencies.

The department's BRAC recommendations are intended to:

• Enhance the military's ability to meet contingency surge or mobilization requirements;
• Retain those installations that have unique capabilities that would be difficult to reconstitute at other locations;
• Consolidate similar or duplicative training and support functions to improve joint war fighting;
• Transform important support functions - including logistics, medicine and research and development - by capitalizing on advances in technology and business practice.

The department's recommendations will now be reviewed by the BRAC Commission, which will seek comments from the potentially affected communities. As it has in the past four BRAC rounds, the department will assist affected communities in a variety of ways. Department of Defense programs include personnel transition and job training assistance, local reuse planning grants, and streamlined property disposal. The department will join with other federal agencies to offer additional assistance to affected communities.

Once the commission has completed its review, it will present its recommendations to the President. The President must approve and submit the commission's recommendations to the Congress for review and appropriate action. The entire process is expected to be completed by the end of 2005.

On the Web:

Closure and Realinement Impacts by States

Related News:

BRAC Recommendations Effect Bases in Alaska; Kulis, Eielson, Elmendorf and Fort Richardson On List

Source of News & Photograph:

U.S. Department of Defense
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