posted on May 14, 2005 10:34:31 AM
Wonder if anyone can find how many babses are moving out of blue states into red states ?
Base Supporters Prepare to Fight for Jobs
Updated 10:23 AM ET May 14, 2005
Listen to Audio Clip
By JOHN J. LUMPKIN
WASHINGTON (AP) - Defiant communities around the United States are gearing up to fight a sweeping Pentagon plan to close scores of military bases, hoping to save the jobs, tax revenue and prestige that come with them.
Their chances are not good, if previous base-closure rounds are any guide: About 85 percent of the Pentagon's recommendations have survived unaltered by an independent commission, which will scrutinize the list in the coming months before sending it to Congress and President Bush.
For Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the proposed base closings and realignments are part of his plan to transform the military into a leaner, more cost-effective force. Once-distinct lines separating the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines are blurring. Tens of thousands of troops in Europe and East Asia are expected to come home.
Military missions once dispersed around the United States would be consolidated in larger, multipurpose installations. Dispersion was a defense against a Soviet nuclear attack; consolidation gives the military fewer places it must protect against terrorists. The military would also pull out of 12 million square feet of leased commercial space and head for relative safety behind base fences.
To some degree, the military would also move south and west, where land is cheaper and more available,
and, as it happens, voters generally more Republican.
posted on May 14, 2005 10:57:04 AM
Keith Olberman had an interesting map overlay on last night's Countdown. Base moves overlain onto a red state blue state map. Very informative. Interesting isn't it, that Texas will get far and away the biggest influx of new military stuff. Probably just a coincidence, yeah...anyhow, I'm sure you can mobilize troops just as fast from Texas to Iran as from Germany, or from Texas to N. Korea just as fast as from S. Korea...no big deal.
____________________________________________
Dick Cheney: "I have not suggested there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11..."
posted on May 14, 2005 10:57:20 AM
Wisconsin is a red state might lose one and restructring another. All closings have to be debated and I think the states have to say why they want the ones projected to leave stay. It won't happen until probably the end of the year.
I liked the proposal for the New Hospital to be built on the Naval Base in Bethesda, Maryland.
posted on May 14, 2005 01:37:30 PM
db-I think she meant babes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on May 14, 2005 01:46:38 PM
well....I guess she has nothing else to complain about...must be a slow day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on May 14, 2005 01:53:04 PM
A little overview for Crowfarm. The bold part explains why Minnesota National Guard go for training. Also the Michigan National Guard and the Illinois National Guard.
Fort McCoy is a Total Force Training Center with a mission to enhance readiness by supporting training, serving as a Power-Projection Platform for mobilization, providing installation-management expertise, and providing selected services on and off post.
Fort McCoy’s primary responsibility is providing quality training facilities for reserve- and active-component military forces. The many facets of this responsibility include:
• Supporting the needs of all units training at Fort McCoy, the other activities on the installation, and various government agencies located off post. Fort McCoy’s off-post support area is among the largest in the United States.
• Fulfilling the role of one of 15 Army Power-Projection Platforms. Fort McCoy is a ready and capable mobilization site, equipped to prepare and deploy U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard units for any contingency.
In addition to the responsibilities of training, readiness and mobilization, Fort McCoy is the “parent” installation for the management of two direct-reporting installations — Parks Reserve Forces Training Area and Fort Hunter Liggett, both in California. Fort McCoy’s parent-installation responsibilities include providing command- and functional staff support to sustain training missions at the direct-reporting installations.
As a world-class installation, Fort McCoy’s continuing goal is to provide excellent customer service and facilities and enhance the quality of life for all who train, work or live here. The Fort McCoy community truly is unique, with active, reserve and civilian components working together for the betterment of all facets of life at the installation.
Training Opportunities [ back to top ]
Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin and is the only Army facility in the region focused on providing Total Force training. For nearly two decades, the installation annually has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services.
The Fort McCoy complex is situated on 60,000 acres, 46,000 of which are available for maneuver and training. More than 60,000 additional acres are available in neighboring counties through training land-use agreements.
Units training at Fort McCoy will find the installation’s superb location, quality terrain and four-season climate offer significant year-round training opportunities.
Soldiers training here have access to a full spectrum of facilities, ranges, training areas and classrooms that support individual and collective training compatible with environmental standards. The installation also features an air-to-ground impact area and airborne drop zones for both personnel and equipment.
A state-of-the-art Multi-Purpose Training Range permits armor, mechanized infantry and combat aviation units to conduct annual crew qualification. Recent additions to training facilities include an Urban Training Complex, a Combat Pistol Qualification Range, a Modified Record Fire Range and a Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range.
Also serving to enhance Fort McCoy’s training capabilities is easy access to a full range of transportation services, including air, ground, rail and water. The Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport (a joint-use, military/civilian facility) and Young Assault Strip (a tactical landing site) are located on the installation. Each facility can accommodate aircraft as large as the C-130.
Fort McCoy also is “home” to a wide variety of other activities that further broaden the scope of training available here. The Army Reserve Readiness Training Center, the Regional Training Site - Medical, the Regional Training Site - Maintenance, the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy and the Wisconsin National Guard Military Academy are but a few examples.
posted on May 14, 2005 01:55:35 PM
Of course I dont know why we need any bases in Wisconsin or Minnesota....unless were expecting an invasion from Canada<snicker>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on May 14, 2005 02:05:40 PM
It was no laughing matter. At one time we needed them. During WWII as we were in a very dangerous zone. I was from Northern Minnesota. We even wore dog tags to school. Spotted airplanes for the civil defense had air raids and blackouts. It was not a fun time. and it didn't end with the war it continued until about 1949.
posted on May 14, 2005 02:10:33 PM I know you were making a joke classic but I just had to explain. Canada couldn't have stopped anything
_________________
posted on May 14, 2005 03:04:01 PM
I guess you missed the wink crowfarm. But of course it would go way over your head.
Okay show me my Hate this State list. There is no state in the US that is more beautiful than the next. Each one has its own beauty and a reason to live in each state. Except if it is next to you crowfarm. I do love the beauty and the peace and quiet of the North Shore. Wisconsin has the same beauty as I have lived in the northern part there. So now produce my Hate this State List please.
posted on May 14, 2005 04:17:11 PM
Classic, slow is right. We hear about base closings 50 times a year down here. Today, the front page headline in the local newspaper: "Direct Hit"
I'm thinking what is this? Who'd we bomb now, or did somebody bomb us - and I am unaware of it?
I will be sorry if Ft. Monroe closes as that is a beautiful base, extremly rich in history. But they closed Bayonne and moved all the yanks down here...so it goes. A time it was good for the local economy, now everything is getting more and more urbanized, there's no room to move.
.
[ edited by dblfugger9 on May 14, 2005 04:28 PM ]
I know you were making a joke classic but I just had to explain. Canada couldn't have stopped anything 