Primer: Understanding Military Base Realignment and Closure

The Pentagon proposed shutting about 180 military installations from Maine to Hawaii including 33 major bases, triggering the first round of base closures in a decade and an intense struggle by communities to save their facilities.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld also recommended a list of scores of other domestic installations including 29 major bases that will remain open but with thousands fewer troops. Dozens of others will gain troops from other domestic or foreign bases.

The proposal calls for a massive shift of U.S. forces that would result in a net loss of 29,005 military and civilian jobs at domestic installations. Overall, the proposals pull 218,570 military and civilian positions out of some U.S. bases while adding 189,565 positions to others, according to documents obtained by The AP.

Below are some very basic facts and figures to aid in understanding BRAC.

Scope

There are about 3,727 military "sites" in the United States, including everything from big bases to tiny offices, according to the Defense Department. That includes 95 large installations, 99 medium installations and 3,535 small installations. A March 2004 report estimated that about 24 percent of the nation's "base capacity" was "excess." Rumsfeld, however, told newspaper editorial writers recently that excess now looks to be only about 10 percent to 12 percent of the capacity.

History

The last four rounds of base closing -- in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995 -- resulted in 97 major base closures, 55 "major realignments" and 235 "minor actions" for a net savings of $18 billion through fiscal year 2001. Every year since then, another $7 billion a year has been saved.

Why Close Bases?

To save money and eliminate waste. To become more efficient by becoming more "joint," meaning the Army/Navy/Marines/Air Force living, working and training together on the same bases. Also to make basing reflect the ever-evolving military. For example, why keep a base if the people have already been eliminated or moved elsewhere? Or why maintain a hangar that no longer houses planes?

Which Bases Will Close?

We won't know until it is announced.

The Criteria

The main criterion for assessing a base is "military value," which basically means the ability to prepare for and win a war. Other considerations include the economic impact on communities, the extent and timing of cost savings, and environmental impact.