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Military Base Realignment Is Mostly Good News for Washington |
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Written On: May 13, 2005 |
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OLYMPIA—“The Pentagon’s announcement today that Washington’s major military bases will remain open is good news for our state’s economy and our homeland security,” Association of Washington Business President Don Brunell said.
Brunell was responding to the Pentagon’s announcement today outlining the results of the U.S. Department of Defense to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. These major facilities are worksites for more than 83,000 military and civilian personnel, and they generate $3.7 billion in payroll. When economic multipliers are attached, the total goes to $7.2 billion according to information pulled together by the state’s Office of Financial Management in July 2004.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld made the announcement today in Washington, D.C. that 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 base realignments, the projected net savings increases to $64.2 billion. The department's BRAC recommendations, if adopted, would close 33 major bases and realign 29 more.
In all, five military reserve centers in Washington are closing under the base closure and realignment plan. These are the Army Reserve Center at Fort Lawton in Seattle (with 107 positions affected), the Vancouver Barracks (45), the Marine Reserve Center in Tacoma (20), the National Guard Reserve Center in Everett (57), and the Richard H. Walker Army Reserve Center in Spokane (38). The total reduction in personnel is 267.
McChord Air Force Base, losing 567 employees, and Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, losing 198 personnel, will remain open, while other bases gain employees. Naval Station in Bremerton gains 1,400 people and Fort Lewis gains 230. In total, Washington stands to gain over 700 military and civilian personnel if the BRAC adopts these recommendations.
“While we would like to see installations like Vancouver Barracks and Ft. Lawton to remain open, we are pleased to see that Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Navy Base Everett and Fairchild Air Force Base will remain active,” Brunell said.
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