Mike Levin: “The service chiefs have also made the case for shrinking our base structure. In testimony before the committee, General…”

“The service chiefs have also made the case for shrinking our base structure. In testimony before the committee, General Reimer said: We cut 36 percent out of the force structure and 21 percent of the infrastructure in the Army. I think we need to balance those two out or we are going to pay a heavy price that we should not have to pay. The testimony of the service chiefs makes this point very clear. The issue is not base closures or no base closures. The issue is either we shrink the base structure or we are going to have to cut modernization. If we make the wrong choice and do not close any more bases, this problem is not going to go away. If we keep excess bases open and try to protect modernization by cutting the size of our forces instead, that will further increase the amount of excess base structure, which will, in turn, increase the pressure to close bases. This problem is not going to go away. This problem will get worse if we delay it. If we cut forces instead of closing bases, that will inevitably lead to increased operating costs and increases days away from home for the smaller number of personnel who will be left. This issue is not going to go away. It will fester and get worse unless we address it. It will not be easier to determine and make this decision a year from now or 2 years from now than it is now.”