Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: CMC Airboss on July 20, 2005, 12:02:59 AM
-
The last active duty Naval air base in New England hit the BRAC closure list today. It was previously on the "re-alignment" list. I hope it survives... its a great place to see an airshow.
July 19, 2005 1:47 PM EDT
WASHINGTON - The base-closing commission voted Tuesday to add two military facilities, in California and Maine, to the list of hundreds of domestic bases that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has proposed closing and shrinking.
The Navy Broadway Complex in San Diego and the Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Maine, were added to the list of facilities to be closed. The commission also was voting on whether to add bases in nine other states and Washington, D.C.
The San Diego facility has headquarters for Navy operations in the
Southwest, while the Brunswick air base is the last active-duty Defense Department airfield in New England and one of Maine's largest employers, with nearly 4,900 military and civilian workers.
-
Originally posted by CMC Airboss
its a great place to see an airshow.
If that's all it's good for, I wouldn't count on it.
-
"The last active duty Naval air base in New England hit the BRAC closure list today."
And the retribution that started with Nixon will be almost complete. It took a bit over 30 years but soon there won't be any significant military bases left in any of the NorthEast blue stat_ er, all of New England (Air Force, Army or Navy) at all.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050410-military-cuts.htm
-
Guess this means more P-3C squadrons for NAS Jacksonville.
-
Originally posted by Westy
[B
And the retribution that started with Nixon will be almost complete. It took a bit over 30 years but soon there won't be any significant military bases left in any of the NorthEast blue stat_ er, all of New England (Air Force, Army or Navy) at all.
[/B]
Actually, us Conservatives are just realigning forces for the coming Civil War over the Second Amendment. Since much of the military are outdoors types and gun owners, we figure we might as well station the troops on our own soil.
:)
Actually, do you think it might have something to do with population density?
Are there any areas in the NE where you could have 64 square miles of tank maneuver area like the Army has at Fort Riley in Kansas?
Are NE populations more likely to complain about "the sound of freedom" that is routine near Air Bases than folks in the South or West?
-
when the heathen french hordes in quebec storm the border with quice and baguetts, we will regret this.
-
"Actually, us Conservatives are just realigning forces for the coming Civil War over the Second Amendment."
I KNEW it!
Of course there are multiple factors involved but! IMO, and it is a widely held one in these parts, is that politicians DO seek revenge on those who do not vote for them and actively reward those who do.
Also IMO it has very little if anything to do with training in the terrain du jour, air traffic noise nor naval industry/operations proximity to growing residential areas.
The NE was a very nice, strategic position for handling air, underwater and seaborne traffic from the Arctic, Europe and Africa. No one is honestly concerned with seeing enemy landing craft heading in toward the beaches of Cape Cod, Newport, Old Orchard or Mystic so not there's not been much of an Army presence here since WWII.
IMO it's not vey smart militarily to leave a major doorway attended.
And I cannot honestly think you believe these closures are really "above board" and non-politcally motivated realignments of forces and finances with they eye toward improved protection of our country/continent.
-
"when the heathen french hordes in quebec storm the border with quice and baguetts, we will regret this."
eh :) Laugh now but when all our signs have to be bilingual you'll regret it.
And it wouldn't be so bad I imagine if they were actually redeploying Army assets to control the influx of funny hat wearing people smuggling in chewawas, tequila and bean burritoes from the South.
-
Never forget the $$$$.
It's so much cheaper to base in the South and West (with the exception of the West Coast, I'm sure.)
Everything, from land to labor is cheaper than it is in the NE. Has to be a major consideration.
-
$$$ is undoubtedly a very significant issue in this matter. However I do believe it is being reallocated for rewards and not as any serious attempt for cost saving.
If they were true concerns for cost savings I've a list of bases in other countries around the globe I'd prefer they whip out and start crossing names off of.
-
But then you or I really have no idea what any of those bases cost do we? We have no idea of just what is or is not included in the costs.
What we do know is that real estate and labor are far cheaper in the South and West. ;)
-
Well real estate is one benefit I'm sure if one ignores the savings from an existing infrastructure and the 99 year leases the military holds on these bases. But I do have doubts on the value of that far cheaper labour ...
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/business/050630/b0630102.html
Unless it's cheaper "menial" labor that is the basis for cost savings. If the Navy and Airforce do not locally subcontract out maintenance or repair work on hightech aircraft or nooqueular submarines and/or thier systems.
-
Well then consider COLA for the troops in the NE versus the S and W. Gotta be a savings there too.
-
IMO COLA isn't very adequate for service people just about everywhere - except for perhaps the Phillipines. And for sure, yes the Northeast is a very expensive place to live. But so are the areas these NE base functions/material/personnel will be relocated to when they shut them down.
If they were closing the Groton sub base and moving everything there to say Hendersonville, N.C. then I'd think COLA was a serious part of the equation.
-
Originally posted by Westy
And the retribution that started with Nixon will be almost complete. It took a bit over 30 years but soon there won't be any significant military bases left in any of the NorthEast blue stat_ er, all of New England (Air Force, Army or Navy) at all.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26539295@N00/6815676/
I know...you're in love now.