TOPICS
TOPICS
New Mexico base avoids closure, loses aircraft
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission Friday voted to modify the Defense Department's plan to mothball New Mexico's Cannon Air Force Base, opting to leave the base open but move its three F-16 fighter squadrons to six other bases.
The commission backed a proposal urging Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to take another look at Cannon, located in Clovis near the Texas border, and consider assigning it a new mission. If such a mission is not found by Dec. 31, 2009, the Pentagon can close the base.
The proposal, offered by panelist and former Transportation Secretary Samuel K. Skinner, passed 6-1 with two abstentions. Commission member and retired Adm. Harold W. Gehman voted against the plan.
Commissioners said that the Cannon decision was one of their most difficult, because of the dramatic effect the base's closure would have on the community and the Pentagon's instance that the F-16s were needed elsewhere for strategic reasons.
New Mexico's political leaders grudgingly accepted the commission's decision, vowing to find a new mission for the base.
"We're declaring a partial victory," said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. "Cannon stays alive and stays open, and that's what we came here to do," he added.
"It's clear that the BRAC commission wasn't persuaded by the Pentagon's arguments that Cannon should be closed," said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. "This decision gives us time to regroup as a delegation and work even harder at convincing the Pentagon that Cannon Air Force Base is much too valuable to lose."
The Pentagon proposal to shut Cannon would have relocated 2,824 military and 384 civilian personnel at a cost of $90.1 million. The military had hoped to save $2.7 billion over a 20-year period.
The New Mexico congressional delegation predicted in a news release that the F-16s would not be redeployed until 2008 because of the $90 million cost of moving them. They noted that commission member and retired Gen. Lloyd W. Newton said that Cannon would be an "ideal" location for the future F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fleet.
COMMENTS
- BRAC commission - you have stopped the closure of anything major that might produce savings for us taxpayers. Now is a perfect time to redeem yourselves. Close Keesler AFB where every building is damaged by Katrina and move the training functions from Keesler to Cannon or Ellsworth that you kept open. This would save the operating expenses that Keesler would have if kept open and avoid all the repair costs to bring the damaged building back to a level of use. Do it now because you only have a week to do it! taxpayer Posted September 1, 2005 6:28 AM
- Perhaps we should usurp DoD's right to determine where they put their Training Bases; certainly Gen Lloyd W. Newton did a better job of suggesting than anyone else on the BRAC. I want to take Gen Newton's suggestion (move all the IFF Taaining to Cannon AFB) one step further. Do the Whiz kids at DoD know WHERE a pilot goes just before or immediately after IFF? Answer: to Centrifuge Training! Guess what? There is an excellent Centrifuge just a "few miles" southwest of Cannon, at Holloman AFB...in fact the Physiology Sqdn Commander has a brand new building...which BRAC wants to "mothball". Now where are the brains here? Close the Holloman Centrifuge, and SPEND $8. million moving the one from Brooks to W-P AFB, Ohio...then send the IFF students on an expensive TDY to Wright-Patterson for Centrifuge Training! The "old heads" (Gray beards, if you will) are saying that if you take the Centrifuge at Brooks apart, and haul it to Ohio; there is a big chance the SOB will not operate when you put it back together...BRAC just spent EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS on WHAT??? By the way, where did BRAC get that Admiral? He was nothing but negative; and he proved that Gen Newton could think circles around him. I notice he was the ONLY member voting "NO" on everything for Cannon AFB. The BRAC should send an amendment to the President...MOVE ALL IFF to Cannon; use the Holloman Centrifuge! Keep the one in place at the Brooks School of Medicine for it's intended purpose; training Physiology Sqdn Commanders and Research. Let's follow Gen Newton's lead and do something SMART for a change. GovExec.com reader Posted August 30, 2005 9:54 AM
- I bet it wasn't easy moving three R-16 aircraft to six other locations. GovExec.com reader Posted August 29, 2005 12:43 PM
