Posted on 01/07/2007 7:00:20 AM PST by SLB
FORT KNOX — Fort Knox is on a short list of Army posts being considered as the permanent station for a new Stryker brigade combat team.
“We probably could accommodate this, but we haven’t done an analysis and we haven’t been asked to at this point,” said Connie Shaffery, Fort Knox spokeswoman.
The unit is being transformed in Hawaii, but opposition from environmental and cultural groups has caused the Army to reconsider.
An environmental impact statement completed in 2004 determined Hawaii was a suitable location for the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The unit was scheduled to transform from the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light).
After a legal challenge from environmental and cultural groups, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in October that the Army did not consider alternative locations as required under the National Environmental Policy Act.
“We had to go back and do it right,” said Robert DiMichele, spokesman for the U.S. Army Environmental Command.
The Army announced Thursday it was preparing a supplement to the 2004 final environmental impact statement concerning the 5th SBCT.
In addition to Fort Knox, alternative locations include the current site in Hawaii, Fort Richardson and Donnelly Training Area in Alaska, Fort Lewis and Yakima Training Center in Washington, and Fort Carson and Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site in Colorado.
The alternative locations were selected based on criteria including the availability of ranges and maneuver training facilities, maintenance facilities and facilities that bolster quality of life for soldiers and their families.
“We brought it down to a number of sites that could legitimately support a Stryker brigade,” DiMichele said.
The 5th SBCT includes 3,900 to 4,100 soldiers, and 950 to 1,050 vehicles. Of those vehicles, between 310 and 330 are Strykers.
Strykers are armored, wheeled combat vehicles. They were designed as a bridge between the Army’s current armor force and the quicker, lighter future force. The vehicles were tested at Fort Knox in 2003.
Preparing the supplemental environmental impact statement will not affect the training of the future 5th SBCT, which is about 60 percent transformed, DiMichele said. As part of current troop rotations, the brigade must be available to deploy by November.
A notice of intent has been filed in the Federal Register, opening a 45-day public comment period. During that time, officials will collect comments from communities that could be affected, including Fort Knox. Open meetings will be held at all of the alternative sites, DiMichele said.
Later, Environmental Command will draft a statement to be released in late spring or early summer, DiMichele said. The public will be allowed to comment on the draft.
The final environmental impact statement and the decision about the 5th SBCT’s permanent home could be completed in the fall, DiMichele said
The NEPA requires the military to examine all aspects of how a change to the way we currently do business will impact the local area. One of the deciding factors in the 2005 BRAC decision is NEPA. Ft Knox stands to gain around 3500 personnel. The post has to file an impact statement as to how this influx of personnel will impact the local environment, schools, businesses, housing, etc. The impact statement for Hawaii will take all of that plus direct impacts of increased use of training areas into consideration.
I don't mean to sound like a tree hugger, but the law is the law and must be followed.
The above are just two of the many situations we had to work around in scheduling all the test events.
Fort Ricardson AK, the Old FT Greely AK, and FT Lewis are all in consideration. Being an Alaskan and with the 172D SBCT (oh that is right, we are now 1-25 SBCT), my money is on Uncle Ted and Co getting it moved to the Old Fort Greely
The initial concept with the SBCT was wheels down via C-130 within 96 hours of recieving the word. While for the most part that has gone away, there is a huge diffrence between having to move to the Port of Anchorage or Port Of Olymia vs Beumount TX, which is the port that both Carson and Knox use if I remember correctly. I think the decision really is between Ft Rich and Ft Lewis, and the other two posts were named just to appease people.
The biggest thing about this, is who is going to replace 2-25 on the patch chart. They were supposed to deploy to Iraq (if I remember correctly) this Dec (07), right now that leaves 2 potential SBCTs 2CR and 1-25. So one again Greenies and the great and wonderful 9th Circuit Court have screwed with national security.
I did OSUT training at FT Knox in Jan83 and came back to Knox in 85 for BNCOC.... good times
You stationed at Ft. Rich?
Back in the day. I live in Anchorage tho. We had a Stryker unit here a while back, seeemed to work for everyone.
But, it seems, unlike HI, the folks in AK WELCOME the military.
I was not aware of that, but being a former Grunt (when I was enlisted) and now a Redleg, I have never been to Knox.
But, it seems, unlike HI, the folks in AK WELCOME the military.
I was there from 87-90 and loved it. Not a bad place to be stationed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.