Excerpt from 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Process: Hearing Before the Readiness Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session; Hearing Held March 25, 2004 Over the past 4 months, dod has met several statutory require ments in advance of the 2005 brac round. On February 12th, the Department published the final selection criteria that will be used to make brac decisions. Several Members have already expressed concern that the final criteria were identical to the draft criteria published in December of 2003, leading them to believe that the hundreds of public comments and concerns about the draft criteria were ignored by the Department. I would like to ask our witnesses to address this perception and to explain why the Department decided not to make any changes in the draft criteria. In addition, dod published several documents required by brac law earlier this week, including a detailed Force Structure Plan that is based upon the assessment of probable threats over the next 20 years, a description Of the infrastructure necessary to support the Force Structure Plan, and certification based upon the Force Structure Plan and infrastructure requirements that a round of brac is in fact necessary. While the brac selection criteria might be considered the boundaries of the base closure process, the documents received this week are at the center of dod's justifications for another brac round. AS such, I think it is safe to say, the Members of this sub committee are very interested in the Department's recent sabmis sion. Throughout the coming year, the Members of the committee will be asked by their constituents: IS a round of base closure in 2005 justified? Is it necessary? And is it timely? About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Between 1988 and 1995, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission closed down 97 bases and realigned over 350 other bases. A hot button topic in the military field, base-closings is an important issue that affects not only soldiers, but ordinary citizens as well. Due to their massive economic significance for local and regional communities, military bases impact thousands of people, and thus encompass various political interests between local, state, and national levels. This reference work investigates the politics and key political figures involved in base-closing decisions, and considers various reasons why bases have been and continue to be closed down. An overview of the U.S. military base infrastructure as well as primary documents is included to help students understand the BRAC Commission process between 1988-2005. The book also analyzes the closure of overseas bases outside of the BRAC process. Ideal for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, this comprehensive handbook is the only complete reference guide to military base closings. Between 1988 and 1995, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission closed down 97 bases and realigned over 350 other bases. A hot button topic in the military field, base-closings is an important issue that affects not only soldiers, but ordinary citizens as well. Due to their massive economic significance for local and regional communities, military bases impact thousands of people, and thus encompass various political interests between local, state, and national levels. This reference work investigates the politics and key political figures involved in base-closing decisions, and considers various reasons why bases have been and continue to be closed down. An overview of the U.S. military base infrastructure as well as primary documents are included to help students understand the BRAC Commission process between 1988-2005. Ideal for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, this comprehensive handbook is the only complete reference guide to military base closings.

Statement of Barry Holman, Dir., Def. Capability & Mgmt., Before the Defense Base Closure & Realign. Comm. The Defense Base Closure & Realign. Act of 1990 authorized a new round of base realign. & closures (BRAC) in 2005, the 5th such round in recent years but the first since 1995. The legislation requires the Sec. of Def. to submit his list of bases recommend. for closure & realign. to an indep. BRAC Comm. by 5/16/05. The Comm. is charged with reviewing these recommend. & submitting its report with recommend. to the Pres. for his acceptance or rejection of them in their entirety by 9/8/05. Subsequently, Congress has final action to accept or reject the recommend. in their entirety. Here is a review & report on the DoD process & recommend. Illus.