Rumsfeld announces BRAC recommendations

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mitch Gettle
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  The secretary of defense released the Department of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure recommendations during a press conference May 13.

The recommendations, if fully implemented, will generate an estimated net savings of nearly $50 billion for DOD over the next two decades, officials said. The Air Force would save an estimated $2.6 billion through 2011, and a total of $14.6 billion over the next 20 years.

"The BRAC recommendations announced by the Department of Defense enable us to take full advantage of the expertise of each component of our total force -- active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian -- as we continue adapting the Air Force to meet the challenges of a dynamic global environment," said Michael L. Dominguez, acting secretary of the Air Force. "These recommendations strengthen our ability to coordinate, integrate and operate as part of the joint warfighting team, but I also know they will significantly (affect) many people in the Air Force and in communities around these bases. We're committed to providing all the help we can to work through this together."

This list of recommended Air Force closures included five active-duty and seven reserve component installations.

They are:

-- Air Force Research Laboratory Mesa, Ariz.

-- Brooks City-Base, Texas.

-- Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

-- Ellsworth AFB, S.D.

-- General Mitchell Air Reserve Station, Wis.

-- Kulis Air Guard Station, Alaska.

-- Mansfield-Lahm AGS, Ohio.

-- Niagara ARS, N.Y.

-- Onizuka Air Force Station, Calif.

-- Otis Air National Guard Base, Mass.

-- Pittsburgh ARS, Pa.

-- W.K. Kellogg AGS, Mich.

The purpose of the DODs recommendations is to make the most efficient and effective use of all the department’s resources, to improve operational efficiency, to save taxpayer dollars, to advance transformation and enhance the combat effectiveness of the military forces, officials said.

These recommendations will not be implemented until after hearings and review by the BRAC commission, approval by the president and congress sometime in November.

Additionally, 62 Air Force installations face varying levels of realignment under the DOD proposal. For the complete list, visit www.af.mil/brac.