Military

Scott AFB, Illinois

Scott Air Force Base is in Illinois. It is located about 20 miles east of St. Louis near Belleville. Scott AFB's primary missions are managing a domestic aeromedical evacuation system, commanding and supervising all operational support airlift within the US and providing initial qualification training for C-9 pilots. The base is also home to five headquarters and a Reserve airlift wing. In addition, there are several tenant units, some directly supporting the base, and others carrying out their own missions using Scott facilities.

During World War I, in April of 1917, this area of Southwestern Illinois was chosen to be the Midwest training base and "flying field". The name chosen, "Scott Field," was that of Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash. Scott's first flight occurred on September 2, 1917, in a Standard Trainer biplane. In 1918, the base designed two air ambulances by modifying Jenny aircraft to carry wounded servicemen. Thus the beginnings of aero medical evacuation which would later become a primary role for Scott AFB. Scott Field first held its open house on August 17, 1918. Scott AFB has served as headquarters for numerous commands. Today the Air Mobility Command and the United States Transportation Command call Scott AFB home.

BRAC 2005

Secretary of Defense Recommendations: In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign Atlantic City International Airport AGS, NJ. Atlantic City's firefighter positions would move to Scott Air Force Base, IL.

DoD also recommended to realign Grand Forks Air Force Base (AFB), ND. It would distribute the 319th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135R aircraft to the 126th Air Refueling Wing (ANG), Scott AFB, IL (12 aircraft) and several other institutions. The 126th would retire its eight KC-135E aircraft. Scott would receive KC-135R model aircraft to replace older, higher maintenance KC-135E models, capture Scott's existing capacity, and increase its capability by robusting the ANG squadron.

In another recommendation, DoD would establish a Mobility Air Forces Logistics Support Center at Scott Air Force Base by realigning Regional Supply Squadron positions from Hurlburt Field and Sembach (non-BRAC programmatic) and LRS positions from Little Rock Air Force Base and Altus Air Force Base.

In another recommendation, DoD recommended to: realign Fort Eustis, VA, by relocating the Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command to Scott Air Force Base, IL, and consolidating it with the Air Force Air Mobility Command Headquarters and Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) Headquarters at Scott AFB; realign Hoffman 2, a leased installation in Alexandria, VA, by relocating the US Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command to Scott AFB, IL, and consolidating it with the Air Force Air Mobility Command Headquarters and Transportation Command Headquarters at Scott AFB; realign US Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command -Transportation Engineering Agency facility in Newport News, VA, by relocating US Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command - Transportation Engineering Agency to Scott Air Force Base and consolidating it with the Air Force Air Mobility Command Headquarters and Transportation Command Headquarters at Scott AFB.

Secretary of Defense Justification: This third recommendation would be a transformational opportunity consistent with eLog21 initiatives that would standardize Air Force materiel management command and control. This recommendation would realign RSS manpower (from three MAJCOM locations) and base-level LRS manpower (from three installations) into two LSCs in support of Combat Air Forces and Mobility Air Forces. Consolidation would provide a seamless transition from peace to war for 3,012 aircraft and weapons systems associated with CAF/MAF forces and the Airmen that use them. It would also provide a single point of contact to the warfighter, whether at home station or deployed. This recommendation would also result in the disestablishment of the Air Force Special Operations Command Regional Supply Squadron, Pacific Air Forces Regional Supply Squadron, and the United States Air Forces in Europe Regional Supply Squadron.

Military judgment argued for a continued strategic presence in the north central US (Grand Forks is one of the last remaining active military installations in the region). Military judgment also indicated the potential for emerging missions in homeland defense, particularly for border states. Therefore, Grand Forks is retained as an active installation, but realigned to distribute its KC-135R force structure to bases with higher value for the tanker mission--MacDill (36), McConnell (15), Seymour Johnson (25), and Scott (38). Scott receives KC- 135R model aircraft to replace older, higher maintenance KC-135E models, capture Scott's existing capacity, and increase its capability by robusting the ANG squadron.

The total estimated one-time cost to the Department of Defense to implement this recommendation would be $101.8M. The net of all costs and savings to the Department during the implementation period would be a savings of $339.3M. Annual recurring savings to the Department after implementation would be $99.3M, with an immediate payback expected. The net present value of the costs and savings to the Department over 20 years would be a savings of $1,278.2M. Environmentally this recommendation would have the potential to impact air quality at Scott AFB. An air permit revision might be needed. Scott AFB had a 79 acre historic district that might be impacted by future development. Additional operations might further impact threatened and endangered species and/or critical habitats on Scott AFB and impact operations. Modification of the on-installation treatment works at Scott AFB might be necessary. This recommendation would require spending approximately $0.4M for environmental compliance activities.

Collocation of TRANSCOM and Service components would (1) collocate activities with common functions and facilitate large-scale transformation proposed by the TRANSCOM Commander, and (2) reduce personnel to realize long-term savings. The realignment would also terminate leased space operations in the National Capital Region (143,540 GSF in Alexandria, VA) and near Norfolk, VA (40,013 GSF in Newport News, VA).

Community Concerns: There were no formal expressions from the community.

Commission Findings: The Commission established Air National Guard KC-135 wings at: Scott AFB, Illinois, Seymour-Johnson AFB, North Carolina, MacDill AFB, Florida, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, McConnell AFB, Kansas, and Forbes Field, Kansas. This recommendation is consistent with the Commission's Air National Guard Laydown plan.

The Commission found operational efficiencies gained by this recommendation. The Commission noted a risk to material management support to the Air Force during the transition period, but the Commission also recognized that the Air Force has, in-place, a detailed implementation plans to mitigate this risk.

Commission Recommendations: The 126th Air Refueling Wing (ANG), Scott AFB, IL (eight PAA KC-135R/T). The 126th Air Refueling Wing KC-135E aircraft will be transferred to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, for appropriate disposal as economically unserviceable aircraft.

The Commission found the Secretary's third recommendation consistent with the final selection criteria and the Force Structure Plan. Therefore, the Commission approves the recommendation of the Secretary.