(02/03/12) Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced last week that the military wants to close some installations as its reduces its force size and winds down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The process is called BRAC, for "base realignment and closure."
A spokeswoman for Fort Drum said the post isn't commenting on the announcement, but reporter Joanna Richards spoke with Carl McLaughlin, executive director of the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization in Watertown, about how Fort Drum may fare as the BRAC process takes shape.
The last big round of base closures, or
BRAC, happened in 2005. Carl McLaughlin's organization acts as a
liaison between Fort Drum and the surrounding civilian community.
McLaughlin says that round focused on Army installations. Because of
that recent consolidation effort, he thinks large Army bases are less
at risk for closure this time around.
"Because that
consolidation and concentration has already been done. It doesn't
mean you'll have the same number of folks at each one of these,
soldiers, at each one of these installations. They could be
reduced by a brigade here or there or whatever. More likely, I see a
reduction in the other services."
Along with
requesting a new round of base closures, the military is
simultaneously going through a process to reduce the number of
troops. Decisions about force structure and organization are made
solely by the Pentagon, and don't require Congressional approval. So
Fort Drum may see some cuts in numbers of troops even if the
installation as a whole will remain open for business.
McLaughlin is
optimistic about the post's standing going into this round of
installation closures. He points out brigades from Fort Drum have
deployed 23 times in support of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars since
September 11, 2001. And the division's headquarters has deployed five
times. McLaughlin calls this a proven track record.
"I think that what
the 10th Mountain Division does is
well-regarded, well-respected and highly used and fits into the
national security of the United States for the future. It's just the
kind of unit they need and have turned to repeatedly. So, is this the
kind of unit they need? I think it is. Where are they going to house
it? I think they're happy with where they house it. It's a great
installation."
McLaughlin says
that doesn't mean his organization will proceed as if Fort Drum isn't
at risk.
"I'm never gonna
say Fort Drum is safe. That would be letting your guard down. No,
we're going to advocate for Fort Drum, period. Never let your guard
down."
The Fort Drum Regional Liaison
Organization, and many other north country officials, will be
fighting for Fort Drum as any new round of base closures gets
underway.
Meanwhile, the uncertaintly has given
pause to some housing developers as they pursue projects in the Fort
Drum region. But McLaughlin says the uncertaintly this time around is
far less severe than in 2005. For developers, he says, the region is
still a pretty safe bet.
McLaughlin says the timeline for any
decisions about base closures will be extended. The process requires
Congressional approval.
"Because it's an election year, it's highly unlikely that
it'll get the kind of attention that it wants until after November.
And what Congressional approval is about really entails setting up
all the parameters on which the military will be required to do
whatever they're gonna do."
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