Defence

Global Reach

Looking for the right balance

General Myers testifies before the BRAC Commission.

The balance between cost-effectiveness and warfighting capability is a major challenge for the ADF as well as most Defence forces around the world. Base locations, and possible reductions in the number of bases, are coming under increasing scrutiny. For the US Armed Forces this balancing act is known as the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

The BRAC process had its origins in the 1960s with the understanding that the Department of Defense (DOD) had to reduce an extensive base structure that had evolved during World War II and the Korean War.

The American system relies on cooperative effort between the President, the Congress, the military and local communities to achieve the best base structure for America's Armed Forces. It gives local communities a significant role in determining the future use of facilities in their area by transferring closed installations to local redevelopers at no cost (provided that proceeds are reinvested).

Under the plan, the Defense Secretary is required to submit a force structure plan and facility inventory to an independent Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, and to certify that proposed closures align with the force structure plan and produce net savings. The commission reviews these recommendations and makes its own recommendations to the President.

Since 1988, four successive independent BRAC Commissions have achieved 97 base closures and 55 major realignments. This resulted in significant net savings to taxpayers.

On May 16 US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Richard Myers testified before the BRAC Commission. Both stressed the focus on opportunities for greater jointness in forming this year's BRAC recommendations.

General Myers told commissioners that the new National Defense Strategy and National Military Strategy, the department's Global Basing Strategy and the Quadrennial Defense Review had all informed the decisions.

He said the 2005 recommendations also included an important focus on the reserve components. "The recommendations will help the reserve components modernize, improve their mobilization processes and transform for the 21st century security environment."

Secretary Rumsfeld said that the Defense department recognised "that operating jointly reduced overhead costs, improves efficiency and facilitates cooperative training and research."

The recommendations would close 33 major bases and realign 29 others out of some 318 major bases in the United States, Mr Rumsfeld said. The secretary explained that the number of closures and realignments of major facilities - smaller than many expected - was due in part to considerations of military surge capability and an increase in active duty.

"Since the recommendations became public, many people have asked why the department is closing bases in a time of war. The answer is because the changes are essential in helping us win this conflict. We must do all that we can to identify and remove all the excess that exists to be better able to address those pressing needs to help the warfighter," he said.

The testimony from Mr Rumsfeld and General Myers marked the start of the Commission's review of the proposed recommendations. The process also includes testimony from the Secretaries of the individual Services. The Commission is due to make its own recommendation to the President on September 8.

Sources: US Department of Defence, American Forces Press Service
Compiled by Harry Baxter.

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