CA Base Closures

bakersfield.com | Breaking News: "Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has said the closures would save $48.8 billion over 20 years while reshaping the military for America's expected 21st century adversaries.

Rumsfeld's plan calls for a massive shift of U.S. forces that would result in a net loss of 29,005 military and civilian jobs at domestic installations. Overall, he proposes pulling 218,570 military and civilian positions out of some U.S. bases while adding 189,565 positions to others, according to documents obtained by The AP.

The closures and downsizings would occur over six years starting in 2006.

Before closures or downsizings can take effect, the Defense Department's proposal must be approved or changed by a federal base closing commission, and then agreed to by Congress and President Bush, in a process that will run into the fall. In four previous rounds of closures starting in 1988, commissions have accepted 85 percent of bases the Pentagon recommended for closure or consolidation.

Among the major closures Rumsfeld seeks is Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, home to 29 B-1B bombers, half the nation's fleet of the aircraft, and the state's second largest employer. That would deal a potential political setback to Republican freshman Sen. John Thune, who had claimed he could protect the base if elected during his campaign to defeat former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.

Rumsfeld also recommended closing the Naval Station in Pascagoula, Miss., which barely survived previous base closure rounds. The decision was a blow to Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., who had fought the 1995 round of closures. At stake are 844 military jobs and 112 civilian jobs.

The list of California bases recommended for closure is:
--Armed Forces Reserve Center, Bell
--Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Oakland
--Defense Finance and Accounting Service, San Bernardino
--Defense Finance and Accounting Service, San Diego
--Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Seaside
--Naval Support Activity, Corona
--Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Detachment Concord
--Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Center, Encino
--Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Center, Los Angeles
--Onizuka Air Force Station
--Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant"

My Brother in Law works at the base highlighted above. This might mean that his family will have to move. I'm sure these changes will affect many people.