The Associated Press State & Local Wire March 5, 2004
Congressman: European changes could bring troops to Colorado
Army plans to realign troops and pull some American forces out of Europe could be an opportunity to bring more soldiers to Fort Carson, U.S. Rep. Joel Hefley said.
Hefley, a Colorado Springs Republican, learned of several specific Army plans during a House budget hearing Thursday and immediately began his push to move some of those 30,000 soldiers to Fort Carson.
"I think Fort Carson is a place that would be a great fit for some of those soldiers," Hefley said.
The post already houses 12,000 soldiers and is home to two large units, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. But that number is small next to other bases such as Fort Hood in Texas, which is home to two divisions.
The Army began last year to look at its options for maintaining troops in Europe, and under consideration is a plan to bring home two 15,000-soldier divisions, Hefley said.
John Pike, director of the Virginia-based defense policy think tank GlobalSecurity.org, said it would be reasonable to believe Fort Carson would gain a brigade of 4,000 soldiers or more.
Fort Carson spokesman Lt. Col. Thomas Budzyna said he has not heard of plans to bring troops to the post and had no comment on the idea.
Fort Carson has seen a building boom during recent years, with a $44 million barracks complex and a dining hall under construction. For 2005, Fort Carson is slated for $50 million in construction projects, including training facilities and more barracks work.
Pike also said as 2005 approaches, when the Defense Department is planning to close a number of military bases to cut costs, the more soldiers at Fort Carson, the more solid its future.
© Copyright 2004, Associated Press
