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On a day known more for bad luck, Oklahoma received some news that will surely have a positive impact on our state for decades to come. On Friday the 13th of May, when the Pentagon released its recommendations of major bases to be closed, Oklahoma bases were once again conspicuously absent from the list. This announcement was a great tribute to the strength of our bases and the hard work of many Oklahomans.
The nation's military installations have gone through several rounds of base realignments and closures (BRAC), the process by which excess military facilities are transferred or closed. During each round major instillations from around the country were closed, but Oklahoma bases have survived. This year the Secretary recommended that over 33 major installations be closed, which is over 10 percent of the total 318 bases in the U.S. military. In previous rounds a total of 97 bases were closed. With each round of closures the competition gets better and better. I believe the fact that Oklahoma is one of the few states that has never lost a major instillation tells a lot about the quality of our bases in Oklahoma.
Not only did Oklahoma bases survive the BRAC round, we also gained both missions and jobs in our state. Fort Sill in Lawton gained a total of 3,444 military jobs and 161 civilian jobs. They also gained an Air Defense Artillery Center and School and the Net Fires Center. This mission add will enhance Fort Sill's long-term value to our national defense. Tinker Air Force base will gain 355 civilian jobs and Vance Air Force Base will gain a total of 99 jobs. Oklahoma will have a net gain of 3,919 jobs--this is the fifth highest job gain from BRAC in the nation.
The primary criteria for BRAC decisions is the military value of a facility, including current and future mission capabilities, availability and the condition of land, associated air space and the impact on operation readiness of the Department of Defense's total force. Our bases obviously shined in these areas, but I believe another very important component is the people of Oklahoma. Oklahomans are proud of their bases. The communities around each base are a blanket of support for both the service members and their families. Also, the congressional delegation and many other community and state leaders of both parties worked together for decades to prepare Oklahoma bases for BRAC.
Although the news from the Pentagon last Friday was overwhelmingly good for Oklahoma, there were a few areas of concern. The full BRAC report showed that Oklahoma will lose some reserve centers and the Defense Finance and Accounting Center in Lawton. I will be working with the Oklahoma delegation in evaluating this decision and helping inform the Commissioners on the value of these facilities.
I am very pleased that the recommendations for base closures from the Pentagon recognized that each major base in Oklahoma is a vital component of the military and a staple in its community. The BRAC process is not over. Commission members can amend the list. Facilities can be added or removed between now and September 8, 2005. After the Commission has sent the revised list to the President, he has the option of approving or disproving the list. The President must submit a list to Congress by November 7, 2005. But, once this round of closures is complete, Oklahomans can breathe a long sigh of relief, because, at this point, there is not another BRAC round authorized by Congress. Oklahoma bases will be safe for a long time to come. |
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