DCN 3451 June 30, 2005 Department of Defense Releases N.C. to get $1 million to help communities N/A hit by base closings (Raleigh, NC) National News Articles Military-base supporters, lawmakers attend Adjutants General to Contest Air Force Plan hearing in Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte, NC) at Special BRAC Commission Hearing in Atlanta Job growth in Connecticut is stagnant, report says (Bridgeport, CT) Labor Department announces grant for BRAC transition assistance Congressman sees strength in numbers (Corpus Christi, TX) Local News Articles Connecticut Sub Center Has Sinking Feeling Connecticut lieutenant governor praises state (Atlanta, GA) businesses' efforts to save base (New London, CT) Base Backers To Be In Suspense For 2 Months (Atlanta, GA) RAFB backers gear up for BRAC visitor (Macon, GA) BRAC Told Data Incorrect (Fayetteville, NC) Opinions/Editorials N/A State lobbies against base changes (Myrtle Beach, SC) Additional Notes N/A Chamber Looks To Pack 4 Buses For BRAC Hearing Next Week (New London, CT) Department of Defense Releases Date changed for hearing on base closings National News Articles (Washington, PA) Adjutants General to Contest Air Force Local leaders upbeat about BRAC staff visit Plan at Special BRAC Commission (Macon, GA) Hearing in Atlanta US Newswire June 29, 2005 BRAC Commission Early Bird 1 Use of these articles does not reflect official endorsement. Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original copyright restrictions. DCN 3451 To: National Desk "Some of the adjutants general testifying aren't Contact: John Goheen of the National Guard from states significantly affected by the BRAC Association of the United States, 202-408-5882 recommendations," said General Koper. "But as a group they see a flawed process and the WASHINGTON, June 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- devastating impact BRAC could have not only State National Guard leaders will argue against on the Air Guard, but the nation." Air Force plans to ground one-third of the Air National Guard at a special Base Realignment The hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the and Closure Commission (BRAC) hearing in Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Atlanta tomorrow. The BRAC Commission, which is currently Labor Department announces grant for reviewing and evaluating the Defense BRAC transition assistance Department's realignment and closure The Associated Press recommendations, granted the hearing at the Jun 29, 2005 request of the Adjutants General Association of the United States. The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday announced a $500,000 grant to help civilian "The adjutants general were shut out of the Air workers and spouses that could be affected by Force BRAC process," said retired Brig. Gen. the Pentagon's base closure recommendations. Stephen M. Koper, NGAUS president, who plans to attend the event. "This hearing will be, The National Emergency Grant will help for most of these generals, their first real chance workers who may be affected by the Base to formally contribute to this process. We Realignment and Closure recommendations gain commend the commission for this opportunity." access to services and help communities develop transitional plans, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Some BRAC commissioners and many in Chao said in a release. Congress have already expressed concern over the impact of the Pentagon's recommendations The grant can also be used to help create on the Air National Guard. economic development programs for affected areas, Chao said. The scheme would eliminate all of the aircraft from 29 Air National Guard flying units and South Carolina applied for the grant in late May. leave six states without a flying unit. It may also force thousands of the Total Air Force's most The Pentagon has recommended closing the experienced air crews and maintainers to leave Defense Finance and Accounting Service and military service. the South Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Charleston, moving 1,100 jobs out The commission invited a representative panel of the state. of adjutants general to testify tomorrow. On the agenda are the top Guard officers from Local News Articles Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio, Vermont and West Virginia. Connecticut Sub Center Has Sinking Feeling They are set to outline the significant flaws in Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, GA) the Air Force's data-collection and analysis and Dan Chapman the overlooked high cost of cutting Air Guard June 30, 2005 units. They also will present BRAC's potential consequences to recruiting and retention and homeland and national security. BRAC Commission Early Bird 2 Use of these articles does not reflect official endorsement. Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original copyright restrictions. DCN 3451 Groton, Conn. -- Nothing's sacred and nobody's saving "strike force" and the legislature put up exempt in eastern Connecticut's battle to save $1.5 million to fight the Pentagon. State the country's oldest submarine base from closing lawmakers also approved $10 million in and moving many of its men and machines upgrades, if needed, to deepen the Thames. 1,047 miles south to Kings Bay, Ga. Rell questions whether coastal Georgia offers Preachers beseech the Almighty for spiritual enough jobs, schools, doctors and video stores. intervention to keep open Naval Submarine Base Her spokesman, Rich Harris, was quoted as New London. Politicians bluster about fairness, saying: "When you look at a map, it's kind of patriotism and economic ruin. rural down there." Ex-sailors now commissioned as community Connecticut sent three employees to Camden leaders exhort the citizenry to wave flags, buy County earlier this month to gauge Georgia's "Save Our Sub Base" T-shirts and turn out in ability to handle the growth. Walt Yourstone, large numbers to show support for the Thames executive director of the nonprofit Camden River base. Partnership, says he was surprised by the Northerners' surreptitious visit. "I don't know Schoolchildren have been enlisted. And why they were being so secretive," said Connecticut officials have dispatched spies to Yourstone, a former commander of the Kings Georgia to size up their rival. Bay Naval Base. "The mere fact that they seem to be grasping for a straw tells me they are Today, Georgia will reinforce its case for Kings desperate." Bay at a Base Realignment and Closure Commission hearing in Atlanta. Connecticut James Abromaitis, Connecticut's economic will have its say Wednesday in Boston. development commissioner, said the fact-finding mission's goal was to verify Pentagon data on The Pentagon announced May 13 that the housing, schools, hospitals and more. Navy's shrinking East Coast submarine fleet would be better served if operations were "Why would [the Pentagon] want to rebuild consolidated at Kings Bay and Norfolk, Va. No what's already in place at Groton base?" he community would be hit as hard as Groton, asked. population 40,000, across the Thames from New London. With 8,600 military and civilian jobs Experience might be Groton's best weapon. The and an annual payroll of $452 million, the New Pentagon tried three times in the 1990s to close London base is the Pentagon's largest target in or downsize the base. John Markowicz, an ex- this round of closings. submariner partial to quoting Winston Churchill and Admiral Nelson, helped win the battle each The Defense Department estimates that time. transferring the base's 18 fast-attack subs and support services would translate into $1.6 billion "My focus, basically, is take no prisoners," said in savings over 20 years. It notes that Kings Bay Markowicz, executive director of the possesses ample room to grow and is better Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region in located strategically in the post-Cold War era New London. "Don't give up the ship and all than New London, a Navy yard since 1868. that. Because, overall, the impact would be quite devastating." A study commissioned by the state of Connecticut concludes that 31,500 jobs and $3.3 But some locals seem resigned this time to the billion in economic activity would ultimately base's demise. vanish if the base, its submarine school and the nearby Electric Boat submarine-building factory "I had a young man in his 30s who has worked close. Gov. M. Jodi Rell established a base- at the base for 17 years come to me the day the BRAC Commission Early Bird 3 Use of these articles does not reflect official endorsement. Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original copyright restrictions. DCN 3451 announcement was made. He was just really depressed. It seemed final to him," recalled Jim "We will not give up the fort," said Col. William Schneider, pastor of Pleasant Valley Community Ledyard, "let the consequences be what they of Prayer and Praise. "The community is may." fearful." Ledyard and 88 men died in battle. Schneider worries about filling the parish's food closet and Christmas baskets if the base closes. Base Backers To Be In Suspense For 2 Sharlene Aspinwall frets about selling her Months $375,000 colonial house in nearby Waterford. Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, GA) "The first two days on the market, the real estate Add Seymour Jr. guy said, 'I don't think it will last the weekend,' " June 30, 2005 Aspinwall recalled. "Now, ever since the sub base announcement, I'll get one [inquiry] a week Now the tough part is about to begin for backers and during a recent open house only one person of Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson. came." They've gotten their final face-to-face Her father owns Pop's Kitchen, Pop's Car Wash opportunity to lobby members of the Base and Mum's Washtub Laundromat in a strip of Realignment and Closure Commission who will shops along Route 12 leading to the base.