Forum on Plan for an Unstable Defense Future

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

Military Affairs Committee

Date & Time:  Wednesday, Oct. 14, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place:  La Quinta Inn | 1425 E. 27th St. | Tacoma 98421
Register: Register Online

Event Sponsor:

The event fee will be complimentary, hosted by our sponsor for invited Military Personnel who reserve with Janice Hutchins, (253) 683-4882 or janiceh@tacomachamber.org


AGENDA:
The Current State of Military Affairs in WA & How We Plan for an Unstable Future

Introduction:  Kristine’ Reeves,
Governor's Sector Lead & Director | Military & Defense Sector
Program Director | Defense Industry Adjustment Program
Executive Director | Washington Military Alliance

1. DoD’s Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) grant update by
James Evans, Program Manager, Defense Industry Adjustment, Department of Commerce

Military downsizing, future of the Army and force realignments are all making the news, but what about impacts to the defense businesses around the base supporting billions in the state economy?  Join us for a presentation on the state's efforts to “map” the DOD supply chain in WA, better prepare for defense budget cuts and support local communities.

2. Military compatible land use by
Jeff Wilson, Director, & Deanah Watson, Growth Management Services, Department of Commerce & Xandre Chateaubriand, Policy Advisory, Governor Inslee

Think JBLM is the only base in WA or the only county challenged by encroachment or incompatible land use?  Interested to see how other states are tackling this challenge or how WA is needs your help to do the same here?  Join us for an update on the report going to the legislature focused on taking steps to address this issue.


NEXT ACTIVITIES
November 12 John Anderson Military Citizen of Year with Rotary Club #8

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Visit the “Tacoma-Pierce Co. Veteran & Business Service” Facebook page.  Like the page to stay informed of workplace opportunities for transitioning vets and vets as well as current information.

ADC Issues Invite to First PNW Conference

You are invited to the first ever Association of Defense Communities’ Pacific Northwest Defense Forum, to be held August 20-21 at the American Lake Conference Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 

Registration Open for ADC Northwest Defense Forum

View the updated agenda here.

The event will feature legislative leaders as well as national, state and local military and civilian experts on a wide range of defense issues, such as effects from the Army downsizing announcement in 2015, expanding missions for installations in the northwest, evolving community-military relations for the future, and more.

ADC’s Regional Events Series is bringing community and industry leaders from across the Northwest for a first-of-its-kind, one-day event to gather intelligence on the latest activities at DoD and on Capitol Hill, and the impact they have across the Northwest region.  This is also your chance to hear from other nearby community leaders facing similar challenges and share what works and what doesn’t.

Click here to register today - thank you and see you there!

More detailed information follows:

Building Resilient Defense Communities

In defense communities across the country, budget cuts, mission changes and defense infrastructure maintenance shortfalls are leaving installations, communities, states and partners looking for new ways to overcome uncertain obstacles.

But the challenges – and solutions – that work in one place may not work for all communities.

WHO IS ATTENDING?

•             Local and state government officials

•             Defense policy experts

•             Federal Congressional Leadership

•             Regional planners

•             Air Force, Army and Navy Leadership

•             Military families

•             Local business leaders

•             Education professionals

•             Civic planning commission volunteers

•             Non-profit leaders

•             Anyone concerned about how decisions in Washington DC will impact military installations

KEY ISSUES

Policy leaders and defense experts will discuss the pressing issues facing the Northwest Region, such as:

•             Defense Downsizing, Force Reductions and Mission Realignment

•             Mission Readiness and Defense Infrastructure Budget Shortfalls

•             The Growing Importance of Installation-Community Partnerships

•             Synchronizing Community Economic Development and Infrastructure with Current and Emerging Military Missions

•             Military Compatible Land Use and Encroachment

•             Military Family Quality of Life and Child Education

FEATURED EXPERT PANEL: STATE OF DEFENSE

Leading insiders will explore the crossroads facing the military and their host communities by sharing insight on the current environment and how emerging trends, such as force restructuring, Programmatic Change or BRAC and the defense budget uncertainty may affect how the region’s military installations and defense communities look in the future. 

REGISTRATION

Registration is only $50, which covers the full educational program, lunch and an evening networking reception. Register today HERE.

SPONSORSHIP

Show how much your organization supports defense communities, the military and families. There is a wide range of sponsorship packages available. Download sponsorship materials HERE or contact Matt Borron email or (202) 822-5256.

LOCATION

The Northwest Defense Communities Regional Forum will be held on Joint Base Lewis-McChord at the American Lakes Conference Center. For more information, visit HERE.

In the Northwestern U.S., the economic development and defense support needs can be just as unique as the culture, people and national security missions that call the region home.

Pierce County Talks JBLM's Forces Reduction

Pierce County Talks is PCTV's talk/discussion program that explores topical issues with the people on the front lines.

Thousands of JBLM personnel got the news that the Army will not reduce their numbers by 11,000 but some troops and civilians will still have to go.

Host Erich Ebel speaks with Pierce County Councilmember Doug Richardson and South Sound Military and Communities Partnership’s Tiffany Speir about what this means for the future of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Watch now HERE.

Army Announces Force Structure and Stationing Decisions

The Department of the Army announced today force structure decisions and stationing plans for the reduction of the regular Army from 490,000 to 450,000 soldiers.

The reduction of force structure will occur in fiscal years 2016 and 2017; the reduction of 40,000 end strength will be completed by the end of fiscal year 2018, and will be accompanied by the reduction of 17,000 Department of the Army civilian employees. These cuts will impact nearly every Army installation, both in the continental United States and overseas.

As part of these reductions, the number of regular Army brigade combat teams, the basic deployable units of maneuver in the Army, will continue to reduce from a wartime high of 45 to 30 by the end of fiscal year 2017. The Army will convert both the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Georgia and the 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska into smaller units—maneuver battalion task forces—by the end of fiscal year 2017. While brigade combat teams consist of approximately 4,000 soldiers, these battalion task forces will be comprised of approximately 1,050 soldiers.

Additionally, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division will remain a brigade combat team, but will convert its primary maneuver platform. Currently, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division is a Stryker brigade combat team, however, it will become an infantry brigade combat team without Stryker combat vehicles. Additionally, the Army is analyzing a proposal to use the brigade combat team’s current Stryker equipment to convert an Army National Guard brigade combat team in the Pacific Northwest to a Stryker configuration.

The Army selected these brigade combat teams for reorganization based on a variety of factors including strategic requirements and the inherent military value of the installations where they are based. The force structure decisions announced today best posture a smaller Army to meet global commitments.

“Budget constraints are forcing us to reduce the Total Army,” said Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, Army deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7. “These were very difficult decisions to make as all of our installations and their communities offer tremendous value to our Army and the nation. In the end, we had to make decisions based on a number of strategic factors, to include readiness impacts, mission command and cost.”

If the fiscal-caps of the 2011 Budget Control Act caps, commonly referred to as sequestration, are not addressed, the Army’s end-strength will be further reduced to 420,000 soldiers by the end of fiscal year 2019. This will result in a cumulative loss of 150,000 soldiers from the regular Army – a 26 percent cut over a seven year period. The resulting force would be incapable of simultaneously meeting current deployment requirements and responding to the overseas contingency requirements of the combatant commands.

JBLM Appreciates Community's Response

Col. Charles Hodges, Joint Base Commander, expresses in this letter his thanks to the community for its involvement in the Army Community Listening Session and support of JBLM.

(Click on Image for a larger view)

Why the Army Community Listening Session?

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

Date:  Wednesday, Jan. 14,
Time: 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place:  La Quinta Inn | 1425 E. 27th St. | 98421
Register: Online here.

Forum Sponsor:

AGENDA

WHY THE ARMY COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION?
Col. Charles Hodges, Joint Base Commander

The Army is performing a series of nation-side community listening sessions in every community (here: Jan. 21, time: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, at The McGavick Conference Center, Clover Park Tech College in Lakewood) as a follow-on to its earlier environmental assessment for the 2020 Forces Realignment/Reduction. Community members have the opportunity to tell the Army about issues not covered in this year's SPEA process and the local business and personal impacts from any local forces reduction of military and civilian jobs.

The Army will be considering:
    Quantitative & Qualitative Factors
        - Military Value
            * Training
            * Power Projection
            * Well-being
            * Mission Expansion
        - Strategic Considerations
        - Cost Efficiencies
        - Readiness Impact
        - Mission Command
        - Statutory Requirements
        - Feasibility
        - Environmental & Socioeconomic Impacts
        - Community Input (impacts to your business, access to veteran services, commitments of JBLM to the community, local governments financial infrastructure built for JBLM as a growth base, etc.)

AMC RODEO   
The AMC Rodeo returns again to host site JBLM-McChord Field in 2015.


UPCOMING MEETING
JANUARY 21, 10 AM – 12 NOON, ARMY COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION, McGAVICK CONFERENCE CENTER, CLOVER PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
C-9 Blog, the Chamber’s military-community blog which focuses on the armed forces and civilian relationships, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest.

Veteran & Business Service, at its Facebook page, works with businesses to seek the "Veteran Advantage," promoting, encouraging and facilitating Veteran employment across the business community.

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.