Legislature(1993 - 1994)
04/15/1993 05:00 PM House MLV
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
April 15, 1993
5:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Rep. Eldon Mulder, Co-Chairman
Rep. Richard Foster, Co-Chairman
Rep. Pete Kott
Rep. Ed Willis
MEMBERs ABSENT
Rep. Mike Navarre
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Sen. Loren Leman
Sen. Randy Phillips
Sen. Bert Sharp
Rep. John Davies
Rep. Con Bunde
Rep. Tom Brice
Rep. Jeannette James
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Presentation by Major General David Bramlett
WITNESS REGISTER
MAJOR GENERAL DAVID BRAMLETT
U.S. Army
Headquarters 6th Infantry Division
Ft. Wainwright, AK 99703
(907) 353-6660
Position Statement: Gave presentation on military concerns
in Alaska
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-7, SIDE A
Number 000
CHAIRMAN ELDON MULDER called the House Military and Veterans
Affairs Committee to order at 5:19 p.m. on April 15, 1993.
Members present were Rep. Foster, Rep. Kott, and Rep.
Willis.
Rep. Navarre was the only member absent.
CHAIRMAN MULDER introduced MAJOR TOM RHEINLANDER, CAPTAIN
RON RHYNNE and MAJOR GENERAL DAVID BRAMLETT.
Number 023
MAJOR GENERAL DAVID BRAMLETT stated in his introduction that
he wanted to give an update on the Army in Alaska, inform
the committee on the reorganization of the 6th Infantry
Division Light, and put the reorganization into context. He
noted that he would explain the impacts of reorganization in
three areas: economic (financial) impacts; school impacts;
and off-post housing. He stated that they are still making
detailed plans for the military in Alaska based on the
decision made last week. He stated that he would give the
committee a copy of his report (plan) as soon as it is done.
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT stated that he could state the Army's
position on Alaska and Alaska's importance to National
Security. He said that our National Military Strategy is
changing dramatically. He stated that National Security is
a shared responsibility; it is not just for the Army or the
U.S. Department of Defense, it belongs to all. He stated
that since the end of the Cold War the United States has
developed a new National Military Strategy. He gave the
four components and changes of the new National Military
Strategy: Straight Deterrence (not a counter strike);
Forward Presence (not Forward Deployment); Crisis Response
(not Reinforcement); and Reconstitution (not full
mobilization).
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT stated that the Army's challenges
were to maintain an edge by reshaping the forces, resourcing
the forces, and integrating the forces. Major General
Bramlett stated that in the last 40 years, the United States
government has prepared to send or sent military troops 237
times. He stated that they have to reshape the forces from
761 thousand troops to 520 thousand troops by 1995. He
stated that with that drop they are confident that they can
maintain an edge if they can resource the forces. Major
General Bramlett stated that three years ago the Army's
budget was $90 billion and next year it will be $60.7
billion. He stated that they were concerned because with
these cuts they will still have to maintain an edge. He
stated that one of the last challenges the Army faces is the
integrating the forces -- that the bases they have retained
are the bases that can serve as "springboards" if troops are
deployed.
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT said that Alaska is in a strategic
location -- a key location for a response anywhere in the
world. He said that Alaska has the best training areas
(variety of terrain) in the world. He said the Army has
access to training areas that there is no replication to in
the other 49 states. He stated that there is a good
relationship between the Army and the Air Force here in
Alaska and that they perform well together in joint
operations. He said that the Army Chief of Staff said at a
meeting of rising commanders that the Army will keep troops
in Alaska.
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT stated that the reason why the
Division became reorganized as a Brigade was because they
(U.S. Army) could only maintain so many soldiers. He said
that the division right now has an authorized strength of
6400 soldiers, but when they go to a Brigade it will be
about 3550 soldiers. Major General Bramlett stated that
there will be about 2800 spaces lost in the next 18 months.
He said that there were four components to the Army in
Alaska: the 6th Infantry Division Light (6400 soldiers);
1500 soldiers stationed at Ft. Wainwright and Ft. Richardson
which are not a part of the 6th Infantry Division Light;
garrison soldiers (900 soldiers that help operate the bases
at Ft. Greely, Ft. Wainwright, Ft. Richardson); and stove
pipe units (1000 soldiers; i.e., soldiers that are
affiliated with military hospital). He stated that the
stove pipe units will actually increase in the numbers with
the reorganization. Major General Bramlett stated that they
had over 9800 soldiers and that they were going to lose 2800
spaces of the division troops. He stated right now they
have about 9800 soldiers and about 13,000 family members in
Alaska. Major General Bramlett stated that there were about
3,500 civilian workers and out of those there has been no
announced cuts. He said that the military contributes to
the economy about $390 million and generates another $170
million.
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT stated that the plan for the next 18
months will be to reposition forces so that they have a
Brigade task force headquartered at Ft. Wainwright. He said
that the reason for this is because it is close to the
training area and Eielson Air Force Base. He said that this
is where they could get the most training for their
soldiers. He stated that a good quantity of the 3500
soldiers will live up there and the Airborne Task Force will
be at Ft. Richardson. Major General Bramlett stated that
all those other units that are normally used to support the
Division will be collected into a Brigade and this is going
to be a new headquarters called the Arctic Support Brigade.
This Brigade will have its headquarters at Ft. Richardson.
Major General Bramlett stated that Ft. Richardson will lose
more spaces than Ft. Wainwright. He said that as the
Division goes away, Ft. Richardson will lose more of the
2800 spaces than Ft. Wainwright.
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT stated that in the next 18 months
there would be impact cuts in salary of about $81 million,
based on a figure that assumes every soldier has a $29,000
salary. He stated that he plans on making these cuts
through attrition.
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT stated that they approximate between
1200 to 1300 school kids will be out of the system. He
stated that if you took out one hundred school children from
every grade (from two posts) that this would be transparent
especially in Ft. Wainwright. He stated that this would be
no impact due to the growth of school children in the
Fairbanks area where there is a yearly 2 percent increase.
He stated that it would be more noticeable in the
Anchorage/Ft. Richardson area, but not significant. He
stated that they were going to keep one of these elementary
schools to use for overflow from the Tanana Middle School
(for the next four or five years) until they build a new
school.
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT stated that 60 percent of the Army is
married (Alaska varies between 59 percent to 62 percent).
He said that based on these statistics, about 1840 families
will leave -- the majority of which will come out of Ft.
Richardson. He stated that there will be less demand for
off-base housing at both Ft. Richardson and Ft. Wainwright.
He said that at Ft. Wainwright the demand right now is about
980 units and it will probably go down by 300 to 400 units.
He said that the drop in demand for off-base housing for the
soldiers at Ft. Richardson may be minimal (over the next 18
months). Major General Bramlett stated that he was aware of
U.S. Senator Ted Stevens' hard work with the Army leadership
in making the case that Alaska should be a receptacle for
other units that come back. Major General Bramlett stated
that that was a delicate issue for himself.
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT stated that this was a great
opportunity to leave combat troops in Alaska where we can
have all of the support structure still in place and to have
the access to the training areas in Alaska. He said that
this was good for the United States. He stated that the
Army is here to stay in Alaska as long as the Nation will
allow them.
Number 418
SEN. PHILLIPS asked that Major General Bramlett remember
that there is no special committee on the Senate side for
receiving information on military issues. He stated that
they have three schools on Ft. Richardson and that there are
federal funds for schools. He asked if Major General
Bramlett was aware of a federal funds list and if he had any
other information as to whether it would still be continued
or discontinued.
Number 440
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT replied that as a matter of principle
the United States Department of Education wants to get out
from under the schools. He stated that the last he heard
was that the $4.5 million for Ursa Major was in good shape.
Number 455
SEN. LEMAN stated that Lt. General Ralston was committed to
funding the schools. He stated that we all need to pull
together on this issue. He stated that the problem is that
the Anchorage School District does not understand the issue,
therefore they will not take over the schools.
Number 463
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT replied that the school district is
right in not taking over the schools. He stated that
someone has got to bring them up to code.
Number 470
SEN. SHARP stated that he has appreciated Major General
Bramlett and his predecessor on how they included the
military in being involved in their community. He asked how
the Arctic Life School was coming and when was the
completion date.
Number 482
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT said that it will be open this fall.
He stated that they were on target. He stated that they
were going to use Chena as a Tanana Satellite School. He
stated that he has worked with Ms. Carpenter (the
principal), and that they have an adjunct faculty, and they
are going to convert that into a Jr. High School. He said
the middle school will be called the Tanana Satellite
School. Major General Bramlett conveyed that they will take
over the overflow. He stated that the good news is that
during the next four years while they build that school,
they will be able to use the old school for up to 300
students. He stated that the U.S. Department of Education
has to hold on to it. He said, "What we want to do is not
let it fall into disuse then we get into coping problems."
He said you would have to report $500,000 to get it back up.
He said that the school would be in continuous use but it
would be called Tanana Satellite School.
Number 513
REP. DAVIES stated they have appreciated the work that Major
General Bramlett has done with their school superintendent,
Rick Ross (Fairbanks).
Number 519
REP. WILLIS asked how will our Army National Guard units
dovetail under the new system with the regular Army?
Number 530
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT replied that it would work extremely
well. He stated that Tom Carroll had developed a plan for
the Army Guard and that plan has continued to be implemented
by General Hugh Cox. Major General Bramlett said that
General Cox has taken the 5th and 6th Battalion and has
combined them to get their strength up; one of which is
stationed in Juneau and the other in Anchorage. He said
that they have been combined with the Headquarters to reside
at Ft. Richardson. He stated that the Army Chief of Staff,
General Sullivan, approved of Tom Carroll's plan to put that
Battalion at Ft. Richardson. He stated that there will be a
company in Fairbanks, Ft. Richardson, and in Juneau. The
Battalion will be the fourth in the Light Infantry Brigade.
He said that this is a great boon for the Army Guard in
Alaska and a boon for the Army because they will be able to
train with them. He stated that it was difficult in the
past to train with them because they were spread out all
over Alaska and they were undermanned. He stated that they
are now a full battalion.
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT said they are also doing a lot with
the reorganization of the Battalions in the Northern part of
the state. They are still Scouts, which he said was
important to distinguish for monetary reasons for federal
funding. There is a federal funding stream that comes
straight to the Eskimo Scouts, and if you change their name
you jeopardize its funding. He stated that what they have
done is to reorganize so that they're in a Light Infantry
configuration. Major General Bramlett said that they still
have their fundamental mission, but it is not as demanding
because they do not think the Russians will come over the
top. He said that it is now easier to work with them
because their tactics and doctrines are the same. He said
that you will see a much closer relationship because of what
Tom Carroll has started.
Number 587
REP. FOSTER stated that the last joint Army and Army
National Guard winter exercises was held along the entire
West Coast of Alaska in the Arctic (around Nome), which was
20 years ago. He stated that the people in those villages
loved the presence of the military. He asked if there would
be any more of these types of winter exercises that would
happen again in that area.
Number 602
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT replied that that series in the past
was called Brim Frost but eventually became Arctic Warrior.
He said that it was discontinued this year. He stated that
that scenario (Brim Frost-Arctic Warrior) was to defend
Alaska and that it is not realistic. He noted that Lt.
General Ralston, Major General Bramlett, and General Chords
were working on the idea of calling it (for example, Brim
Frost) anywhere they want and it will be a deployment base
for soldiers to come up to Alaska as if they were deployed
somewhere else (for example, Korea). He stated that they
have got to make the case in order to get the money.
Number 641
REP. JAMES stated that she enjoys the presence of the
military and Major General Bramlett in Fairbanks.
Number 650
CHAIRMAN MULDER asked if there were any issues that affect
the military in Alaska that the legislature could address.
Number 658
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT stated it was schools. He stated
that the soldiers are grateful for the treatment they
receive from the community in both the Anchorage and
Fairbanks area.
Number 682
CHAIRMAN MULDER stated that they have been working with U.S.
Senator Ted Stevens on the schools. He stated that they get
their funding through federal D.O.D/D.O.E and that there is
a $40 million need throughout the state. He said that if
the state is lucky, it trickles down in $4 and $5 million
increments. He said they have approached U.S. Senator Ted
Stevens on what they could do to ensure the future of those
funds. He stated that what the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans Affairs has done is to prepare a
resolution which will be introduced calling for a task force
this interim. If the resolution is passed, Chairman Mulder
asked Major General Bramlett to name someone (military
personnel) to the task force (members from U.S. Senator Ted
Steven's staff and the school district). He stated that the
goal of this task force would be to come up with a plan to
make this transition. Chairman Mulder stated that not only
is this important for our children, but also the security of
our bases.
Number 713
REP. KOTT asked Major General Bramlett if the 2800 number of
cuts were people cuts or space cuts.
Number 717
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT said that it was 2800 space cuts that
will go away, but that the numbers on the ground (people)
actually won't be that small because they haven't had as
many as were authorized already.
Number 737
REP. KOTT asked if the command here in Alaska has taken a
position on creating the extensions for soldiers. He stated
that they used to have the consecutive overseas tour
options. He asked if that was still available.
Number 740
MAJOR GENERAL BRAMLETT replied that it was still available
until they announce the reorganization. He said that if a
soldier has to stay in Alaska, their chain of command could
say that they (the soldier) has done a good job and was not
going to hurt them professionally, and he normally would
extend them. He stated that now, because of this draw down,
he wanted to make this as painless as possible. He said
that if a position is open and a soldier wants to stay and
fill it, he will not bring in another person to fill the
position. He said he would let them as long as it is not
hurtful to their career. He stated that he is being very
careful in allowing this unless it is warranted. He said
that it is tougher now than in the past.
Number 758
CHAIRMAN MULDER stated for the record that the committee had
been joined by Sen. Leman, Rep. Kott, Sen. Sharp, Rep.
James, Rep. Foster, Rep. Bunde, Rep. Brice, Rep. Davies,
Rep. Willis, Sen. Phillips, and Jeff Morrison with the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
ADJOURNMENT
CHAIRMAN MULDER adjourned the meeting at 6:09 p.m.
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