Wednesday, May 18, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Base closings would impact FayetteFort Mac, Gillem could wiggle off list, but not likelyBy JOHN MUNFORD Fayette County stands to be impacted by the potential closing of forts McPherson and Gillem, announced late last week. One direct consequence would be the closing of an office of the Army Reserve in Peachtree City that houses network operations and telecommunications support employees. According to government figures, closing that office would result in the loss of 162 jobs, 65 of which are military. Though no concrete numbers were available at press time, there is a significant presence of active military who live in Fayette County, many of whom serve at Fort Mac. Thats no surprise, as military folks often seek out the best schools when relocating to a new installation, said retired Brig. Gen. Philip Y. Browning, a Peachtree City resident who has been working on the Base Realignment and Closure program with current Gov. Sonny Perdue and former Gov. Roy Barnes. Also affected, to varying degrees, will be Fayettes military veterans, some of whom depend on services offered on base at Ft. McPherson. Fayette, with more than 11,000 veterans, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, joins Rockdale County as having the highest percentage of ex-military population in the metro Atlanta area. Although Georgia officials will make a case that Ft. McPherson and Ft. Gillem should remain, plans will also begin soon for redevelopment of those bases so the community wont be caught flat-footed if the bases remain on the closing list, Browning said. Only about 15 percent of the bases placed on a list are later taken off the list, he noted. If Georgia waits until the final decision is made, it wont be as well off as if it prepares for that decision, given its likelihood, Browning added. Well try to develop a case to get off the list, Browning said. But we need to try to plan for redevelopment just in case. For many Fayette families involved in the active military, the closing of Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem will mean just another geographical move. Under the current base realignment plan, the Third U.S. Army would relocate to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina while Forces Command and the Army Reserve would transfer to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. Although Ft. McPherson is Atlantas seventh-largest employer and will lose more than 4,100 military and civilian positions, the net impact of the redevelopment could be huge, Browning said. While Ft. Mac and Ft. Gillem are recommended cuts, Georgia will still end up with a net gain of 8,600 military jobs if the current recommendation is approved by Congress and President George W. Bush. Most of those new jobs would be at Fort Benning in Columbus. |
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