DOD recommends closing two ACC bases, realigning six others

  • Published
  • By Maj. Dave Honchul
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  Two Air Combat Command bases were among the major installations recommended by the secretary of defense for closure and six others were recommended for realignment as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure.

The secretary recommended closing Cannon AFB, N.M., and Ellsworth AFB, S.D., when the BRAC list was released May 13. If approved, the bases would close by 2011. Cannon’s 60 F-16s would be distributed to other Air Force and Air National Guard units across the nation. Ellsworth’s 24 B-1s would move to Dyess AFB, Texas.

The six ACC bases recommended for realignment were Beale AFB, Calif.; Dyess AFB, Texas; Langley AFB, Va.; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Nellis AFB, Nev.; and Shaw AFB, S.C.

“The process used in determining these recommendations was fair and impartial. These recommendations balance airpower among our active duty, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard components,” said Lt. Gen. William Fraser, ACC vice commander.

The list also contained recommendations on numerous Air National Guard units which are aligned under ACC when activated. Two ANG locations -- Otis ANGB, Mass., and W.K. Kellogg AGS, Mich. -- were recommended for closure. Twenty-four additional ANG units under ACC were recommended for realignment.

The recommendations are now in the hands of the nine-person independent commission that will conduct a thorough review and analysis of the DOD’s recommendations. The commission can add bases to the closure list if seven of the members agree. They can remove a base from the list with a simple majority vote.

The commission’s report of its findings and conclusions must be sent to the president by Sept. 8.

“Closing and realigning our bases helps consolidate aircraft and operations into larger squadrons that optimize critical resources,” General Fraser said. “The integration of Reserve, Guard and active duty Airmen strengthens our overall warfighting capability.

“BRAC and our Future Total Force initiatives will aid in the Air Force’s transformation to position us to better meet the increasingly complex challenges of the 21st century.”

The recommended actions for ACC units are part of the overall Air Force recommendations which affect a total of 115 installations, reducing excess airfield infrastructure by 37 percent while retaining 5.4 million square yards of ramp space for surge operations and emerging missions. It will result in flying operations ceasing at 28 installations in the United States.

The entire list of recommendations for Air Force units can be found at www.af.mil/brac.