The phrase “military transformation” – coined
to note the transition from an Armed Forces focused on Cold War
threats to one capable of meeting a broader spectrum of challenges,
including the non-state actors in the War on Terror - is usually
used in reference to new weapons systems, fighting techniques,
and technologies. In truth, there is another – albeit less
glamorous – side to this effort. As the Pentagon moves toward
making our fighting forces as lean, agile, and fast as possible,
it is imperative that their support structure keeps up. Included
in this support structure are the military’s bases and facilities.
BRAC is one of the few tools the Secretary of Defense has to
shape and transform this defense support infrastructure. No private
sector CEO could endure without the authority to adjust corporate
infrastructure to match forecast conditions. However, history
shows that any non-BRAC attempt to close a base will be stymied
by Congress. These are the support structure transformations that
must be made in order to reorganize the military around facing
the new threats of this century.
For this reason, BRAC must be allowed to continue unencumbered.
The Pentagon has recently certified that it retains an excess
capacity of 24 percent, even considering the potential return
of thousands of troops from overseas bases. This excess, unneeded
infrastructure presents a security headache, requiring costly
protective measures and diverting resources from the protection
of higher-value military real property assets. In addition, DoD
estimates that by 2011, BRAC closings and realignments will save
nearly $12 billion per year. This is money that can instead be
investment in procurement for transformation efforts.
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