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| Pentagon to Close 33 Military Installations |
| 2005-05-13 |
| WASHINGTON — The Defense Department on Friday will propose shutting 33 major military installations across the country, FOX News has confirmed, triggering the first round of base closures in a decade and an intense struggle by communities to save their facilities. The Pentagon's list is merely a list of recommendations. The list then goes to a nine-member commission that will review it, travel to those installations and discuss the potential closings with community members. The panel is known as the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission. For a complete list of the closures and realignments, click here (pdf). More than 100 other smaller facilities would also be closed, including scores of Reserve and National Guard installations. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld will announce the Pentagon's recommendations around 10:30 a.m. EDT Friday. The defense secretary has said the move would save $48.8 billion over 20 years while reshaping the military for America's expected 21st century adversaries. Among the major closures is Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, home to 29 B-1B bombers, half the nation's fleet of the aircraft, and the state's second largest employer. During the 2004 campaign, Republican John Thune told voters that if elected to replace then Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, his GOP ties would ensure that the base remained open. Daschle said that as minority leader, he would have an appointment to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission and be in a better position to help Ellsworth. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #11 what are you talking about? China Lake is beautiful. Visit Randsburg! Trona! Burro Smith's Tunnel! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-05-13 19:04 |
| #10 Hey China Lake is wonderful. heheheh Only if you have never been their through may through October. It's a freeking oven but Ridgecrest is actually a nice little town these days. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-05-13 18:13 |
| #9 Mojo: They are just closing the NWSSB deteachment at Concord. That's only 71 people. Seal Beach and Concord themselves are not closing. They are closing Corona, though. I used to work there in 87-95. No loss. I hated that place. Though, it looks like they'll all be moving to beautiful China Lake. Ha ha. Arizona came out OK. D-M AFB was never in any danger. Luke and Ft. Huachuca are losing about 200 each, but not actually closing. |
| Posted by: jackal 2005-05-13 17:55 |
| #8 no big closings because SECDEF is serious about bringing units home from Europe and Korea. |
| Posted by: too true 2005-05-13 12:29 |
| #7 Seal Beach, Concord? Bummer. |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-05-13 11:47 |
| #6 Internally there has been a belief for a while that Monroe should have been closed with the Training and Doctrine elements moved to the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth. Monroe couldn't physically expand, there is room to grow on the existing grounds at Leavenworth [outside and inside the walls :)]. |
| Posted by: Phitle Criter4927 2005-05-13 11:46 |
| #5 Closing a couple here in Az.less than 70 personel combined. |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-05-13 11:35 |
| #4 Most of bases listed are real small, mostly reserve. I see most all DFAS regional offices are closing with HQ at Indianapolis gaining. Other bigs going, Fort Gillen, Ft. McPherson, Naval Shipyard Portsmouth, Otis Air Guard Base, Ft. Monmouth, Cannon AFB, Ellsworth AFB, Brooks City Base, Naval Station Ingleside, Red River Army Depot, Ft. Monroe. Now it goes to the BRAC Commission and the politicing begins. |
| Posted by: Steve 2005-05-13 11:00:13 AM |
| #3 Ah, you beat me to it, Steve. Great! |
| Posted by: rkb 2005-05-13 10:41 |
| #2 Yes, and no. It's a relatively small base; really not suitable for supporting the newer boats. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-05-13 10:36 |
| #1 Closing the submarine base at New London? That's a pretty deep cut. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-05-13 10:21 |