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News Analysis: BRAC to enable Army Transformation

By Cheryl Austin
November 15, 2005

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 15, 2005) -- The process of reorganizing Army installations and commands has officially begun. Nov. 8 was the last day that a joint Congress could reject the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, Commission.

Each service is now tasked with submitting a BRAC implementation budget to the Department of Defense by Dec. 2, so that DoD may prepare and propose a budget for congressional approval.

The law governing the BRAC process requires that work on implementing the recommendations must begin within the next two years. All changes must be completed within six years, except areas requiring more time for environmental clean up.

These changes include repositioning forces returning from overseas to Fort Bliss, Texas and Fort Riley, Kan.

The Army’s Training and Doctrine Command is being restructured, with a particular focus on maneuver training.

By moving significant numbers of employees from costly leased spaces with less force protection to government-owned property, the Army will save money and better protect its work force, officials said.

What’s Next?

Many of the recommendations call for major transformational changes, especially in establishing joint-service operations. For example, McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis, Wash., will be combined; as will Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, N.J. To successfully carry out these changes, selected installations must prepare Business Plans that analyze the resources needed to implement BRAC recommendations.

In addition to preparing a Business Plan, selected installations must also designate a BRAC transition coordinator, who will oversee base compliance with DoD and BRAC guidelines.

The changes recommended by the BRAC Commission are an integral part of the Army’s transformation efforts.

In addition to bringing Soldiers home from overseas, Army transformation components include establishing modular brigades and changing the institutional Army. Each Soldier ultimately will be affected by these efforts to reshape the structure of the Army.