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BRAC 2005 DoD Reports and Documents The Defense Department has established an internet website dedicated to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission that already contains a number of reports and documents that can help journalists to understand the BRAC process and become familiar with issues such as military force size and infrastructure inventories that will drive the closure hearings. They include: Report on Force Structure and Inventory: DoD transmitted this 70-page report to Congress on March 23, 2004. It covers the years 2005-2025 in which the DoD must assess near- and long-term threats to U.S. national security, the probable personnel "end-strength" levels and number of major military force units needed to meet those threats (such as Army and Marine divisions, aircraft carriers, other major combatant warships and air wings), and anticipated funding levels to meet those requirements. * A comprehensive inventory of all U.S. military installations worldwide for each military department specifying whether it is part of the active or reserve component of each service. * A description of the base infrastructure necessary to support the force structure identified above. * A "discussion" of the excess categories of base infrastructure. * An economic analysis of the effect of closure or realignment of military installations in the BRAC round. * A "certification" to Congress on whether there is a need for closure or realignment of additional military bases and if such need exists, a certification that such changes would "result in annual net savings for each of the military departments beginning in the year 2011." It includes an 18-page appendix recounting previous BRAC base closures during 1988-95. Comprehensive Inventory of Military Facilities Worldwide This is a two-part inventory that identifies the number of buildings, structures and facilities on every single military base in the United States and overseas. The roster of owned facilities is a mind numbing 655-pages and can be accessed online at http://www.dod.gov/brac/docs/04_b_installations.pdf. The inventory of leased units (including recruiting stations) is 83 pages, and is also available on the Internet at http://www.dod.gov/brac/docs/04_b_leased.pdf. These rosters are useful for compiling a thorough list of military bases in your community, region or state, but do not contain essential information on what military category in which each base falls. Selection Criteria for Base Closing and Realignment The formal DoD criteria for choosing bases to close or realign was entered in the Federal Register on Feb. 12, 2004 and a copy is available at the BRAC website. It provides the overview of what the BRAC process will weigh in considering its recommendations. In a subsequent memorandum on Oct. 14, 2004, DoD officials listed the "Military Values and Principles" that will guide the department's selection of bases for retention, closure or realignment. The significance of this roster was explained in an earlier American Forces Press Service internal news article, "BRAC Criteria Focus on 'Military Value,' " that is posted on the DoD BRAC website. Frequently Asked Questions about BRAC This website area contains extensive and detailed background information on the BRAC process and is very useful for reporters who have not previously covered this issue. What Happens to a Base after Closure The Pentagon BRAC website contains three reports that discuss how previous base closures have occurred and how the closed facilities have been transformed into new community sites.
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