No Bases In Washington Closing, State To Gain Personnel

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By By KOMO Staff & News Services

Summary

Washington state would gain nearly 800 military personnel under a base closure and realignment plan announced Friday.

Story Published: May 12, 2005 at 11:53 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:56 AM PDT

No Bases In Washington Closing, State To Gain Personnel
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Washington state would gain nearly 800 military personnel under a base closure and realignment plan announced Friday.

According to a list sent to members of Congress by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld early Friday, no major bases in the state would be closed and several would gain personnel.

The biggest gainers would be Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, which would gain 1,400 personnel, and Fort Lewis, which would gain 230 employees. McChord Air Force Base, which adjoins Fort Lewis south of Tacoma, would lose 567 employees, and several smaller National Guard bases would be closed.

The Pentagon had been keeping close wraps on the list, but base-reliant communities in the state have been cautiously optimistic during the country's fifth round of Base Realignment and Closure since 1988.

"Goal number one, we did not want any base closed and as we went down the list this morning the first thing we looked at - were there any closures? There were none," smiled Governor Christine Gregoire.

That brought a collective sigh of relief for Naval Station Everett and Naval Air Station Whidbey. Both have landed on the short list for base closures before.

In Everett, some speculated the state's newest base could be significantly scaled down, possibly by moving the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to Hawaii.

"In the last few days, I have spent a lot of time putting rumors back in the box. And quite frankly up until this morning we knew absolutely nothing as to what would happen," said Commanding Officers, Steve McLaughlin.

The Everett base will stay as is. Congress members think they know why, saying it's the best staging area for missions in the Asia Pacific and forces here can be mobilized faster than other parts of the country.

"At Naval Station Everett, we have a platform that we can deploy anywhere around the world if we are call upon to do that," said Congressman Rick Larson. "Sailors call Naval Station Everett 'the sailor's choice' and because it didn't make the list (of recommended base closures) it's clearly the Pentagon's choice as well."

"It's really a good day for Washington state," Larsen added. "I feel great about this list."

At NAS Whidbey, home of the EA-6B Prowlers, more than half of the Oak Harbor community has ties to the Navy base.

"They put too much money into it to shut it down," said a confident retired sailor.

NAS Whidbey has become the center of the nation's electronic warfare operations.

State leaders say by keeping it open, the Pentagon is planning to keep it that way for years to come.

But Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane would lose 198 personnel under the Pentagon plan.

Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Wash., said Fairchild "won round one" when the Pentagon recommended keeping the base open.

"Protecting and expanding Fairchild has been a top priority for my office," said McMorris, first elected to the Spokane-based seat in November. "I am extremely pleased that the (Department of Defense) has recognized the strategic role that Fairchild plays in our national security efforts."

McMorris, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, credited the state's congressional delegation, Gov. Christine O. Gregoire and the Forward Fairchild group for working "tirelessly" to tout the base's military value and joint training capabilities.

"This is only the first round and together, we will work to ensure that Fairchild Air Force Base remains off the closure list," she said in a statement.

Fairchild has some advantages over other bases, including ample land and airspace for expansion, a variety of missions and its desirability among Air Force employees, McMorris and other supporters said.

McMorris has said Fairchild is the second-most-requested assignment in the Air Force, behind Hawaii, and houses the only air refueling wing on the West Coast.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., likewise praised the efforts of state and local officials to promote the importance of the state's bases.

"Overall, today's recommendation by the Department of Defense to protect bases across Washington state is a tribute to the strength of our installations and the commitment of our communities," she said.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., also was upbeat.

"This isn't the final word, but I think it's very good news that the Pentagon is recommending this. We don't lose any (major) bases," she said.

Praising the state's overall success, Gregoire pledged a bipartisan effort to continue protecting Washington's military installations.

"We stand together, my office, our federal delegation, our state Legislature and our military communities. We plan to continue working together, long after this BRAC process is complete, to address the long-term needs of our military communities," Gregoire said.

For More Information:

Base Closing Report -- www.defenselink.mil