Focuses on lessons learned from four rounds of base realignments and closures (BRACs) held in 1988, 1991, 1993, and 1995. Addresses the applicability of these lessons to future BRACs as related to savings, costs, and economic impact; legislative actions needed to authorize future BRAC rounds; and what improvements would be needed in the Department of Defense's process for identifying bases for realignment and closure. Charts and tables.

This report focuses on lessons learned from the base realignment and closure rounds held in 1988,1991,1993, and 1995. We undertook this work so that a systematic assessment of experiences would be available should the Department of Defense (DOD) request and Congress authorize additional base closure rounds. In transmitting the results of the 1997 Defense Quadrennial Review to Congress on May 19,1997, the Secretary of Defense stated his intent to ask Congress to authorize two additional base closure rounds. We are addressing this report to you in keeping with our practice of reporting to Congress on the recommendations and selection process employed by DOD in each of the three most recent base closure rounds, as initially required by the 1990 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act (P.L. 101-510). We have identified lessons related to savings, costs, and economic impact and improvements needed in DOD's process for identifying bases for realignment and closure. We have also included matters for congressional consideration if Congress contemplates legislation for future base closure rounds.