Noteworthies with a Local Link

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced today that the president has nominated Air Force Col. Tyler D. Otten has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Otten is currently serving as the mobilization assistant to the commander, 11th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

NCFA Visited MARAD Vessels at Sperry

An earlier blog article wrote of the upcoming visit by the National Commission for the Future of the Army’s (NCFA) to JBLM and the public hearing available to the community to share its comments with the commission.

The NCFA is a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee established by the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study of the structure of the Army, and policy assumptions, related to the size and force mixture. The NCFA visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) September 22-25.

During the public hearing, members of the community, including the Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber, the South Sound Military & Communities Partnership, the Washington (State) Military Alliance/Washington State Dept. of Commerce and the City of Lakewood spoke of logistics, the Great Circle, quality of life, the Pivot to the Pacific, relationships with the Washington National Guard and other matters relevant to a grand design for tomorrow’s Army from the perspective of the Pacific Northwest and JBLM.

However, an aspect of their visit not reported has been the NCFA’s visit to the MARAD vessels in ready reserve condition at Sperry Ocean Terminals (aka Sperry Dock) at the Port of Tacoma, Commencement Bay.

On September 23, Miguel Jimenez, Director PNW-D and Christopher Donohue, PNW-D Marine Cargo Specialist joined with the Port of Tacoma (Andre Elmaleh, Military Liaison; Sean Eagan, Director Governmental Affairs, Robert Meyer, Senior Manager Port Operations, Gerry Fiola, Chief of Security, Louis Cooper, Senior Director Security and Labor Relations, and Bari Bookout, Executive for Non-Containerized Business and Commercial Strategy) and Military Sealift Command (MSC) (Bruce Leach, Director), and the USCG (Captain of the Port,CAPT M.W. “Joe” Raymond) to welcome the NCFA members at the Port and aboard the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessel CAPE ISLAND berthed at the Sperry Ocean Terminals. The joint team facilitated the continuation of JBLM's presentation to the NCFA addressing the unique regional power projection capabilities at JBLM and the PNW Strategic Seaport.

Jimenez began the discussion by setting the stage with some history about military port operations in the PNW, transitioning to present SDDC PNW-D capabilities. He explained the difference between Strategic and Alternate Seaports noting all of the key ports in the PNW and the metrics measured through Strategic Analysis through the Ports for National Defense program conducted by SDDC, Transportation Engineering Agency. The Port of Tacoma highlighted their ability to rapidly receive, stage, and load military cargo. MSC discussed how they are postured regionally and along the West Coast to support rapid movement from the PNW. The Commission asked questions regarding the life of steam powered ships (both CAPE I vessels berthed at the Sperry Dock are steam powered). The Captain of the Port discussed water side security response and relationships through committees like the Port Readiness Committee.

The Commission members included Thomas Lamont, former Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower, former Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler, III (retired), and LTG Jack Stultz (retired).

The Commission will issue its report no later than February 1, 2016.  Contact:

Col.Kristen Dixon, Public Affairs Officer, Commission Staff, 571-294-2914, NCFA or Joe Eule, 571-256-2643, or at 2530 Crystal Drive, Taylor Bldg., Suite 5000, Arlington, VA 22202, (o) 571.256.2651. 

Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment Listening Session

The South Sound Military & Communities Partnership (SSMCP) invites you to register and attend the Army Community Listening Session:  register here!

Army Community Listening Session

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (PST), McGavick Conference Center, Clover Park Tech College, Lakewood, WA

You should make your voice heard at the Army's listening session related to a potential reduction of up to 11,000 active duty and civilian contractors at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) under the Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment!

Are you military-connected?  A military spouse?  Veteran?  Civilian contractor?  A private business that enjoys military customers?  You need to speak up!

Comments will be taken on any issue of concern, including strategic considerations; costs and efficiencies; training facilities; power projection; readiness impacts; mission command; well-being; mission expansion; and community input.

This is the South Sound's and Washington State's last best opportunity to demonstrate the importance of JBLM operations to not only our local communities and economy, but also how WA supports its military presence and the real need to keep JBLM fully ready to serve as a power projection base on the West Coast.

If the full reduction at JBLM were put in effect, Pierce County has estimated it would result in a total income loss of $1.15 billion - $1.3 billion in Pierce and Thurston Counties.  Washington's Office of Financial Management (OFM) has estimated a loss of $20.47 million in retail sales tax in 2016 alone.  According to OFM, by2020, the loss would increase to $2.44 billion in personal income and $87.26 million in retail sales tax in the state.

Views On the Pacific Symposium at UWT