Politics & Government
More Base Closures on the Horizon?
"We have 20 percent excess infrastructure in our inventory of bases," says Katherine Hammack.
By Kelly Twedell
This week on Defense News the topic of base closures was discussed and the effects that Syria attacks could bring to our U.S. bases.
The military has been privatizing for some time to cut costs and put more funds towards the fighting forces.
The Assistant Secretary of the Army Inst., Energy, and Env. Katherine Hammack explained about the guiding principles of privatization used in a Defense News interview. "We look at core competencies," said Hammack. "We've also worked to privatize lodging and now have transient facilities for soldiers coming in for training or moving in or out."
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Effects of the sequestration have reduced their staffing needed to maintain installation infrastructure at all bases and posts. "We've been backlogged by hundreds of thousands of work orders," said Hammack.
Hammack could not state with certainty that money already spent would not be wasted if another round of base closures were to happen. "We are not investing in areas where it is not absolutely necessary," she said.
"Right now we feel that we have 20 percent excess infrastructure in our inventory that could be put to a productive use in our communities," said Hammack. "That's why we need another round of base closure - to return it back to a community."
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