June 05.pmd - 440th Airlift Wing

BRACGeneral Mitchell Air Reserve Station listedon DoD’s proposed BRAC listGeneral Mitchell Air Reserve Station, homeof the 440 th Airlift Wing, Wisconsin’s only AirForce Reserve unit is one of the militaryinstallations that is on the proposed BaseRealignment and Closure (BRAC) list that wasreleased by the Department of Defense on May13.The BRAC list recommends the closure ofGeneral Mitchell Air Reserve Station. Four ofthe units eight C-130 Hercules aircraft are to besent to the 94 th Airlift Wing at Dobbins ARB,Ga., and the other four C-130s would be sent tothe 314 th Airlift Wing at Little Rock AFB, Ark.The Air Force will realign the 440 th Airlift Wing’soperations, maintenance and expeditionarycombat support manpower to Pope AFB, N.C.The BRAC list is DoD’s recommendationsfor closure and realignment. A nine-personindependent BRAC commission will now reviewthe list and forward their recommendations tothe president by Sept. 8. The commission hasthe authority to change the Department’srecommendations. The commission will holdregional meetings to solicit public input beforemaking its final recommendations.The President will accept or reject therecommendations on an all or nothing basis andforward the recommendations to Congress bySept. 23.Once the President forwards therecommendations to Congress, Congress willhave 45 legislative days to enact a joint resolutionrejecting all the recommendations or they becomebinding on DoD.The BRAC list that was released by Secretaryof Defense Donald Rumsfeld is intended to makethe most efficient and effective use of DoD’sresources, improve operational efficiency, savetaxpayer dollars, advance the transformation ofthe armed services and enhance their combateffectiveness to meet 21 st Century threats.Commission members are: Anthony J.Principi, Commission Chairman and formerSecretary of Veterans Affairs; James H. Bilbrayof Nevada, Philip Coyle of California, AdmiralHarold W. Gehman, Jr., USN (Ret.) of Virginia,James V. Hansen of Utah, General James T. Hill,USA (Ret.) of Florida, General Lloyd W. “Fig”Newton, USAF (Ret.) of Connecticut, SamuelKnox Skinner of Illinois and Brig. Gen. Sue EllenTurner, USAF (Ret.) of Texas.The Air Reserve station has been a part ofGeneral Mitchell since 1954. The 440th AirliftWing was formed in 1943 as the 440 th TroopCarrier Group. The unit’s first operationalmission was the D-Day airdrops over Normandy,France, on June 6, 1944. The wing was brieflyheadquartered in Minneapolis after the war andmoved to Milwaukee in 1957.BRAC timeline announcedWhat’s scheduled and when will it happen?May 16, 2005Secretary of DefenserecommendationsNot later than this date, the Secretary mustpublish in the Federal Registrar and transmitto the congressional defense committees andthe Commission, a list of the militaryinstallations that the Secretary recommendsfor closure or realignment.July 1, 2005Comptroller General analysisNot later than this date, the ComptrollerGeneral shall transmit to the congressionaldefense committees, a report containing adetailed analysis of the Secretary’srecommendations and selection process.Page 10 The Flying Badger June 2005Sept. 8, 2005Commission’s recommendationsNot later than this date, the Commission musttransmit to the President “a report containing itsfindings and conclusions based on a review andanalysis of the Secretary’s recommendations.”Sept. 23, 2005President’s approval or disapprovalof Commission recommendationsNot later than this date, the President shalltransmit to the Commission and to the Congress“a report containing the President’s approval ordisapproval of the Commission’srecommendations.” If the President approves therecommendations, the recommendations arebinding 45 “legislative” days after the Presidentialtransmission or adjournment sine die, unlessCongress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval.Oct. 20, 2005Commission’s revisedrecommandationsIf the President disapproves the Commission’sinitial recommendations, the Commission mustsubmit revised recommendations to the Presidentno later than this date.Nov. 7, 2005President’s approval ordisapproval of revisedrecommendationsThe President must approve the revisedrecommendations and transmit approval toCongress by this date or the process ends. Therecommendations become binding 45“legislative” days after the Presidentialtransmission of adjournment sine die, unlessCongress enacts joint resolution of disapproval.