Fort Bragg may benefit as special ops budget gets boost amid Defense cuts

[Pete]

Fort Bragg may benefit as special ops budget gets boost amid Defense cuts

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/02/19/1156117?sac=fo.military

"The Navy is preparing to retire ships, the Air Force is looking to streamline its fleet and the Marine Corps and Army are planning for cuts in the number of active-duty troops.

Officials in military communities across the nation are bracing for cuts, but special operations forces on Fort Bragg are looking for a boom.

Plans call for more than half a billion dollars just in construction spending for special operations facilities on Fort Bragg over the next five years, according to defense budget documents................."

Interesting story FYI.

I don't much care for the way the "Success from failure" section is presented.

[Guy]

Fort Bragg may benefit as special ops budget gets boost amid Defense cuts

Officials in military communities across the nation are bracing for cuts, but special operations forces on Fort Bragg are looking for a boom.

Plans call for more than half a billion dollars just in construction spending for special operations facilities on Fort Bragg over the next five years, according to defense budget documents................."When I was building hotels, (Extended Stay Deluxe Fayetteville and a few others where I worked my way up to PM) I said follow the BRAC money trail....did they? Nope!

Stay safe.

[Peregrino]

We're busy defending every penny of our operational budget so you'll have to excuse me if I'm sceptical about "growth". Somebody show me, please, where Fayetteville has benefited from BRAC. Personally, all I've seen are publicity campaigns and overbuilt subdivisions - waiting for the windfall. This is more of the same, construction notwithstanding. (The construction, mostly for SWCS, has been in planning for years.) Once again, Fayetteville's cheerleaders break out the pompoms before there's anything to celebrate.

[Guy]

We're busy defending every penny of our operational budget so you'll have to excuse me if I'm sceptical about "growth".

Did you even read the article?

The nation's special operations forces have doubled from 33,000 to 66,000 since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and those numbers are still growing, according to the Department of Defense. The budget for special operations has tripled in the past decade, from $3.3 billion to $10.4 billion.

Somebody show me, please, where Fayetteville has benefited from BRAC. Google property trends nation wide.....

Personally, all I've seen are publicity campaigns and overbuilt subdivisions - waiting for the windfall. This is more of the same, construction notwithstanding. (The construction, mostly for SWCS, has been in planning for years.) Once again, Fayetteville's cheerleaders break out the pompoms before there's anything to celebrate.Try moving & living in CA after getting out.....:lifter

Stay safe.

[Pete]

The BRAC vs what it brings to Fayetteville has been argued since it was announced.

The hard part is - was it "because" of BRAC or "because" the Ft Bragg/Pope Army Airfield complex is the biggest thing within 60 miles and supports the greater Fayetteville/Cumberland market area.

Troops were shuffled around, new buildings built, money spent - but what does that mean when the buildings are up and the construction money stops?

[Peregrino]

Guy - I did read the article. I stand by my statements. Fayetteville's economy has been cushioned from the recent shocks by the military's presence. Just because it's stable compared to California, doesn't mean it's a dynamic engine of growth. And California is largely a self-inflicted gunshot wound - something along the lines of a 155mm.

Fort Bragg is the home of Special Forces; our growth (excepting the 4th Bns and they're finished this year) has been held at ZERO. Every position has to be paid for by giving up something else. We have expansion dreams that are required to address some of the inequities that have been building for 6-8 years because of these "zero growth" policies; however, there are no authorizations. We also have an expanding mandate that requires additional structure to accomplish new(er) missions. We've completed two manpower surveys (2004 and 2011) where positions were validated as required. Until they are authorized (minimum of a two year process that starts only when the staff is allowed to begin working on it) they're filled by "pads". We've been fighting manpower and budget for two years (yes Virginia, there are forward looking leaders in SF) and just barely holding the line.

SWCS is doing fairly well at garnering resources for the schoolhouse, but most of their plans have been fermenting for a couple of years now. The CA and MISO (new name for PSYOPS) positions aren't enough to make an impression on the local economy. As for the billions(?) that SOCOM is supposed to get - check and see how much is earmarked for platforms and infrastructure (much of which was already programmed and is just being protected in the current budget) and how much is going to "train, equip, and organize" Special Forces.

And yes - for those of you who can't tell - I despise Fayettville (Moore County is SO much better). They've always reminded me of the tick getting airs because the dog they suck the life out of is healthy enough to withstand their depridations.

[The Reaper]

Guy, I have to agree with Peregrino.

We both work in the Command and his description of the situation is accurate. There is pretty much zero growth and budget cutbacks loom within USASOC and USASFC(A). You have to understand that USASOC gets money from two primary sources. MFP 2, which is Army money, and MFP 11, which is USSOCOM's. Even if USSOCOM's money is not cut, the Army is getting smaller and cutting budgets, and I think MFP 2 funding of USASOC will suffer, at some point. Frankly, everyone is trying to change and demonstrate their value to avoid cuts. You can see that with the SEALs recently, IMHO. JSOC is not going to be significantly affected. Just as with the Federal budget, when you start fencing off large areas as untouchable (instead of sharing the pain), the rest have to take a proportionally larger cut. And above all, USSOCOM is a platform centric HQs. The planes, choppers, and boats are going to be bought right after USSOCOM HQs is paid for.

BRAC gave us FORSCOM and the ARC, and took away 7th Group and a lot of Pope. Probably minor personnel increases, if any. Too many people looked at the gain without considering the loss. The realtors were disappointed. Rentals are up, and people buying and selling inexpensive homes are okay. The rest of the Cumberland County market appears to be down (or stable, at best) as people move to renting in this market rather than owning.

Lots of MILCON for the past few years with FORSCOM HQs. Currently seeing a new 3rd Group HQs going up and lots of new construction vic of the old ASP. SWCS HQs complex will be next up. MILCON is popular with Congress. Maintaining existing structiuures, not so much. O&M will be cut.

I don't want to live in Kali, been there, not my gig. Too many people telling me how I have to live and what I can't do.

All the best to you, hermano.

TR