MILITARY ISSUE PAPER

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Alexandra Wiggins
5 years ago
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1 (210) TH FIGHTER WING: TRANSITION TO F-35 LIGHTNING II REQUEST: We urge Congress to review the decision-making process used by the Air Force to select the basing locations for the F-35 training mission, and provide information on the factors that went into selecting the initial locations. We also want to support efforts to bring an F-35 training mission to the 149 th Fighter Wing, the Air National Guard s premier pilot training center, by ensuring Lackland AFB scores at the top of the Air Force s 2011 F-35 basing list. BACKGROUND: The 149 th Fighter Wing is based at Lackland AFB. In 2009, the 149FW consisted of 900 employees, and contributed over $100M of economic impact into the San Antonio community and created over 400 secondary jobs. The 149FW s primary federal mission is training F-16 pilots and combat support personnel for worldwide operations. Their pilots deploy in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in order to stay abreast of evolving requirements of theater commanders. The 149FW also has a number of state missions. The 149FW Medical Group is the on-call medical team for FEMA Region 6 for emergencies and contingencies and was the lead medical unit for Katrina, Rita, Dolly, Gustav and Ike. The federal mission enables the state mission and without a federal mission, the future of the 149FW could be in jeopardy. Currently, the 149FW flies aging F-16 s. The Air Force is in the process of retiring F-16 s and replacing them with F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters. The 149FW needs to transition from the F-16 to the F-35 in order to secure a vibrant, front-line fighter mission and remain relevant and viable well into the middle of this century. Securing this strong federal mission enables continued robust state mission capability important not only to the State of Texas but to the overall San Antonio community. In October 2009, the Air Force announced ten initial basing candidate locations (Fig 1).

2 Figure 1: USAF Initial Basing Candidates US Active Air Force Air National Guard Eglin AFB (FL), Luke AFB (AZ), Holloman AFB (NM), Hill AFB (UT), Mountain Home AFB (ID), Shaw AFB (SC) Boise Air Station (ID), Tucson International Airport (AZ), Burlington (VT), Jacksonville Air Station (FL) We are currently not certain as to why Lackland did not make the initial list as it appears to score well in all base scoring criteria areas of mission, capacity, environment, cost and intangibles. The 149FW estimates the costs of converting its existing F-16 facilities to F-35 capable facilities are minimal. We seek to understand Lackland s initial scoring, take actions to improve perceived deficiencies, and ensure Lackland AFB scores a the top of the Air Force s 2011 F-35 basing list (Fig 2). Figure 2: 149FW and Lackland AFB Base Scoring Strengths Basing Criteria Mission Area: weather, airspace, training assets Capacity Area: runway, ramps, facilities, simulators, and other infrastructure Environment: noise issues, barriers to encroachment Cost: MILCON conversion costs, total conversion costs Intangibles: judgment areas Kelly Field Strengths Excellent flying weather >330 days/yr; three different operating areas of 90+NM in length; superior tactical range within 70nm of Kelly Field 11,500 runway, generous ramp space, existing hangars and munitions storage area; existing classrooms and briefing rooms, multi-million dollar simulator facility; all of the support benefits of Lackland AFB (child development center, fitness center, medical, etc) Minimal noise issues due to C-5 Galaxy footprint; excellent barriers to encroachment due to San Antonio s robust support of flying operations at Kelly Field (POSA) Minimal MILCON costs due to 149FW being an existing F-16 pilot training center; increased SRM funding and additional local job/economic benefit post conversion San Antonio is America s Military City unparalleled community support for military; Kelly Field has a 70+ year heritage of fighter aviation training; 149FW has excelled in every operational readiness inspection since receiving F-16 s and boasts the most experienced instructor pilot cadre of any US training unit

3 (210) Army Compatible Use Buffering (ACUB) Program To Address Encroachment at Camp Bullis REQUEST: Army Compatible Use Buffering (ACUB) funding is critical to preserving and protecting Army missions in San Antonio. Congress should: 1. Encourage both the Army Chief of Staff for Installations Management (ACSIM), and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environmental Safety and Occupational Health, to commit at least $25 million in end-of-year fallout funding into ACUB for FY11 with $3 million to support encroachment mitigation at Camp Bullis. 2. Establish reliable programmatic funding for ACUB at $20 million for FY12 to increase to $50 million by FY Support ACUB funding for San Antonio s Army installations to ensure encroachment does not erode of mission effectiveness. BACKGROUND: The Army Compatible Use Buffering Program (ACUB) is the Army program that addresses encroachment concerns at Army installations including Camp Bullis. ACUB is overseen by the ACSIM (Army Chief of Staff, Installations Management) and by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Environmental Safety and Occupational Health. Mission encroachment, due to incompatible development outside military installations or due to limitations on training imposed by endangered species management inside installations, significantly impacts military efficiency and readiness. The ACUB Program provides funding and policy support to Army installations to protect missions from these impacts through voluntary partnerships with state and local governments, conservation groups, and private landowners. Through FY08, ACUB had protected over 96,000 acres at 23 installations. 1

4 ISSUE: ACUB funding is supplemented by funding from the Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI). In FY10, REPI is funded at $54.7 million, with approximately $1.25 million designated for Camp Bullis. The Army does not program ACUB funding. Instead, it relies on the identification of end-of-year fallout funds that were originally allocated to other programs but unspent. This strategy worked well through FY08, but in FY09 ACUB received less than 25% of the funding needed to protect Army installations from encroachment. Programming funds in advance would provide the Army with a reliable funding source to match REPI funds and funds pledged by partners such as the City of San Antonio. Although Camp Bullis has already benefitted from ACUB funds, it needs more funding to purchase land to mitigate the impacts of endangered species on Camp Bullis that affect its mission. Failure to obtain funding will result in the erosion of mission capacity and increase the likelihood that Camp Bullis and Ft. Sam Houston will be viable targets for future rounds of Base Realignment and Closure. 2

5 (210) Brooks-city base: energy efficient utility systems funding Request: Support earmark funding of $5 million to assist with transferring facilities at Brooks City-Base from a chiller plant system to energy efficient utility systems Background: By 2011, all Air Force commands and functions will have relocated to other installations or facilities, thus vacating over 2 million square feet of buildings, 1,246 acres of land, and a loss of 3,900 jobs, negatively impacting the local economy. The BDA is responsible for the conversion of up to 2 million square feet of buildings currently occupied by the U.S. Air Force. The vacated buildings are on heating and cooling systems that utilize antiquated high-energy systems. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes $16.8 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy s (EERE) programs and initiatives. The Act was signed into law on February 17 th, In an effort to reduce costs and utilize more energy-efficient methods to heat and cool our facilities, EERE funding is necessary to provide an avenue to reduce business costs for potential tenants attracted to Brooks City-Base.

6 (210) Fort Sam Houston Physical Fitness Center MILCON Request: Need $824K to begin design of a new Physical Fitness Center MILCON project on Fort Sam Houston to replace two inadequate facilities built in 1945 (Bldg 961 & 1281). Design funds are needed in FY11 so that the Fitness Center programmed in FY13 can stay on schedule for delivery. This facility will correct current fitness center space deficiencies; meet the growing need at FSH and provide support and rehabilitation for the (Wounded) Warriors in Transition (WT) program for those wounded warriors seeking treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center, located on Fort Sam Houston. Record of Environmental Consideration required for construction was signed 4, Feb 09, with a categorical exclusion determination. Background: This 4,254 square meter / 45,790 square foot project is required to fulfill the shortfall in facility requirements necessary to meet standard fitness programs and requirements at Fort Sam Houston and to provide rehabilitation and recreational support to Wounded Warriors. The new facility will replace and demolish two inadequate (total of 2,541 square meters / 27,350 square feet), obsolete Physical Fitness Facilities (Bldg 961 and 1281) housed in World War II era buildings. Currently, these buildings are tasked to provide direct support to over 20,000 permanent party personnel and student Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen in technical training; however building 1281 has been closed due to hazardous asbestos contamination. Both of these existing facilities were constructed in 1945 and each has a basketball court, with peripheral area for bleachers, weight lifting, exercise equipment, and because of inadequate space, racquetball courts in each facility have been converted to a weight training room. Both locker/shower rooms are undersized for today s modern force and do not provide adequate male/female separation. The new fitness center will house Adaptive Recreation and Fitness Equipment and be ADA compliant to serve the specialized needs of Wounded Warriors, in order to assist with recuperation and the well-being for their mental and physical state. The fitness center will also house the Military Adaptive Sports Program providing opportunities for participation in a variety of popular individual and team sports by eligible users with physical and mental wounds.

7 (210) Lackland Ambulatory Care Center REQUEST: Providing state-of-the-art healthcare to our Wounded Warriors, military and civilian personnel, and military retirees and veterans is critically for San Antonio and the military. Congress should: 1. Authorize full funding for the construction of the modern ambulatory care center at Lackland AFB to replace the oversized and aging Wilford Hall Medical Center. 2. Provide timely and full incremental funding for the remaining three phases of the project (FY11 to FY13) to ensure on-time construction of the ambulatory care center at Lackland AFB. BACKGROUND: The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Law of 2005 directed Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC) to consolidate its in-patient functions at Brook Army Medical Center and become an out-patient ambulatory care center. The new ambulatory care center is not fully authorized and funded. Instead, the Department of Defense (DoD) is funding the ambulatory care center in four phases from FY10 to FY13. The FY10 defense budget funded the first phase of the of the ambulatory care center project at $72.6M. For FY11, the President s budget includes $162.5M to fund the second phase. It is anticipated that the FY12 budget will include the third project phase for $ M and that the final, fourth phase, will be funded in FY13 for $80.235M. ISSUE: While this phased authorization and funding approach provides DoD budget office flexibility, it also introduces project execution inefficiencies contributing to higher overall costs. Costs are higher in order to construct complete and usable phases that might otherwise be fully integrated in an incrementally authorized and funded approach. There is also risk that deferment of any phase will require the existing 1.4 million square foot Wilford Hall to be kept in partial operation. The added cost for safely maintaining any clinical care in this 53 year old facility is tremendously expensive.

8 Fully authorizing and incrementally funding the ambulatory care center project would send a strong commitment of support and reduce project costs and risk. Moreover, this incremental funding approach was recommended in the non-approved FY10 Senate version (S. 1392) of the National Defense Authorization Act. This project needs full support to provide an efficient, modern healthcare facility for our warriors, their families and other beneficiary patients who deserve high quality care in a facility reflecting our commitment to the military community in the second largest beneficiary market in DoD.

9 (210) Lackland Security Forces Operations Facility MILCON Request: Funding needed to construct a new consolidated security forces operations facility which relocates functions from 13 widely dispersed buildings and demolishes 7 of these facilities built in The project can be phased, with the initial $10.057M phase providing 25,300 square feet / 2,350 square meters of new construction, and requiring $800K in equipment from other appropriations. Background: This project constructs an $18.6M new security forces squadron operations building, 42,500 square feet / 3,948 square meters, who s directed 100% design is underway. Demolition included in this project will be for 7 facilities built in 1942, that have never had any major renovations since they were constructed, totaling approximately 25,000 square feet. This project also requires $1.7M in equipment from other appropriations. Upon completion this project will provide a facility conducive to proper administration, law enforcement, crime prevention, force protection, anti-terrorism, weapons storage / handling, training, confinement, investigation, and emergency vehicle maintenance. The new facility will accommodate a 103-person day-shift staff as well as a population of 105 visitors / customers and 16 detainees. This facility will also provide a 100- person guardmount and an armory / weapons cleaning area that will accommodate 50 persons. Currently the installation s widely dispersed Security Forces operations buildings are functionally inadequate and could cause mission failure during emergency force protection and anti-terrorism incidents. Widespread forces in 13 separate buildings, up to 4 miles apart, cause a delay in response times; reducing Security Force mission effectiveness and reducing synergy between key functions. These functionally inadequate facilities also contribute to the inefficient and effective use of personnel resources in an already stressed career field. It is estimated that construction of this new facility will save the Air Force $185K annually in facility maintenance and operations costs.

10 (210) Office of Economic Adjustment Funding to Preserve & Protect Military Communities REQUEST: Military communities across the country face unique challenges and opportunities due to the needs of military installations, personnel and families. Due to the importance of military installations in communities and the unique challenges and opportunities they pose, Congress should: Fully fund the Office of Economic Adjustment at FY10 levels ($125,676 M) for FY11 in order to provide communities nation-wide with the level of financial support necessary to prepare their communities for base closure or growth due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 as well as support efforts by communities and the military to mitigate the negative consequences of encroachment. BACKGROUND: Military communities across the country face unique challenges and opportunities due to the needs of military installations, personnel and their families. Many communities have been positively and negatively affected by years of Base Realignment and Closure actions which have posed economic, transportation, housing, public safety, and education challenges to communities large and small. In addition, military installations and communities are now dealing with issues related to encroachment that threaten the viability of missions across the country. In FY10, OEA funding was $125,676M but funding is set to decline precipitously to $50,811M in FY11. ISSUE: OEA funding is critical for communities nation-wide and in Texas to meet the needs of military installations, personnel and their families. Over the past three years, San Antonio has received over $3M in funding to prepare the community and the military with BRAC-related growth and loss as well as address critical issues dealing with encroachment that could hinder mission effectiveness at all the installations in San Antonio. Severely cutting OEA funding for FY11 risks jeopardizing the ability of communities to manage installation growth and decline as well as adequately preserve and protect mission readiness and effectiveness due to encroachment.

(210) 229-2148 Randolph Fire/Crash Station MILCON Request: Funding needed to construct a $13.

11 (210) Randolph Fire/Crash Station MILCON Request: Funding needed to construct a $13.4M new fire/crash rescue station, 30,340 square feet / 2,819 square meters, and demolish the presently inadequate facility built in Background: This project will provide a first-class, state-of-the-art facility for fire and emergency services personnel, that safely supports and enables fire and emergency services personnel to provide appropriate and timely responses in emergency situations and ultimately to save lives. Integral in this objective is $1.2M in equipment from other appropriations. This project also will demolish the current facility, 19,160 square feet / 1,780 square meters, which is out-dated, under-sized and does not adequately support efficient and timely emergency response operations. This existing facility lacks fire suppression in direct violation of National Fire Protection Association Standards and Air Force Fire Station Facilities Design Guide. It was originally constructed in 1966 and has received few upgrades since it was built. The facility is 11,000 SF undersized to support fire and emergency operations. Areas critical to first-response operations are most space-deficient, including the alarm and communications center, firefighting apparatus bays, and firefighter sleeping quarters. The sleeping quarters are four person rooms vs. private rooms and open directly to the apparatus bays permitting infiltration of vehicle fumes. Restrooms, lockers, showers, laundry, and decontamination are inadequate; exposing personnel to infection and contamination risks. Equipment storage areas are non-existent; Hazardous Material Trailer and contingency response equipment must be stored in an open-air storage area that is in direct violation of airfield lateral clearance criteria. A 10% design and RFP package has been completed for this project. This project was included in a base-wide environmental assessment was completed 24 May 07 resulting in a Finding on no Significant Impact (FONSI). This project received 3 of 4 marks from the House and Senate committees during the most recent Congressional insert process.

12 (210) Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) To Address Encroachment at San Antonio s Military Installations REQUEST: Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) funding is critical to preserving and protecting San Antonio s military missions. Congress should: 1. Authorize $75 million in the Office of Secretary of Defense, O&M budget for nationwide REPI funding. 2. Support REPI funding for San Antonio s military installations to ensure encroachment does not erode of mission effectiveness. BACKGROUND: Mission encroachment, due to incompatible development outside military installations or due to limitations on training imposed by endangered species management inside installations, significantly impacts military efficiency and readiness. The REPI Program provides funding and policy support to the military services efforts to protect missions from encroachment through voluntary partnerships with state and local governments, conservation groups, and private landowners. Through FY09, REPI has protected over 85,000 acres in 23 states. The Department of Defense considers REPI to be the flagship program of their Sustainable Ranges Initiative. In FY10, REPI is funded at $54.7 million, with approximately $1.25 million slated for Camp Bullis. However, Camp Bullis needs an additional $2.5M to acquire conservation easements in order to obtain mitigation credits for endangered species that threaten to limit military training. Moreover, REPI funding for FY10 was flat, even though it is among the most popular of Department of Defense programs in Congress. ISSUE: REPI funds are a priority for all of San Antonio s military installations to guard against encroachment. While Camp Bullis has already received REPI funds, it needs additional funding to purchase land to mitigate the impacts posed by endangered species on the mission. In addition, Randolph AFB should seek REPI funding to create buffers around its Outlying Landing Field and at key intersections of low-level flying

13 training routes now while land prices remain reasonable to protect their mission from the negative impacts of urban sprawl. Similarly, Lackland AFB is considering a FY11 REPI submission to buffer firing ranges from urban growth occurring near the installation. REPI funding is critical to preserving and protecting San Antonio s military missions. Failure to fund REPI adequately, and to obtain funding for local installations, will result in the erosion of mission capacity and increase the likelihood that San Antonio s military bases will be viable targets for future rounds of Base Realignment and Closure.

Joint Basing Execution

Joint Basing Execution Joint Basing Initiative started as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), 2005 Realigned 26 geographically proximate bases into 12 joint bases Joint Basing was rolled out/initiated