Gov. Praises Light Impact of Proposed Base Closures

Citing the strategic and economic importance of the state’s military bases, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told a presidential commission Thursday that the Pentagon’s proposed base closure list was “good news” because it would have minimal effect on California.

“Even though we don’t want to lose a single job -- no state does -- we are pleased that the impact of the current plan on our economy is far less than it has been in the past,” Schwarzenegger told the nine-member federal Base Closure and Realignment Commission at a special meeting in Los Angeles.

Of the 30 major military bases in California, only the all-civilian Naval Surface Warfare Center in Corona is targeted for closure, and its 892 employees would be offered transfers.

Ten smaller installations would be closed, while other facilities would be downsized or have some personnel moved.

If the current plan is approved, about 2,000 of California’s 200,000 military and civilian defense personnel would lose their jobs.

This compares with four previous rounds of military cuts that resulted in 29 base closures and the loss of 93,000 jobs.

But the nine-member commission -- made up of military contractors, former members of Congress and ex-officers -- is considering adding the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego to the closure list that must be forwarded to President Bush by Sept. 8.

The facility trains 16,000 recruits a year and has 2,600 Marines, sailors and civilian personnel assigned to it. It is being considered for closure because a similar facility operates at Parris Island, S.C.

During Thursday’s hearing at Westchester High School, representatives from the targeted bases throughout California and others urged the panel to spare their facilities.

Ed Schwier, a retired captain and former commanding officer at the Corona base, warned that the closure would result in the loss of personnel with highly specialized expertise at the facility, where civilians analyze modern weapons systems and other technology for the military.

Schwier said that although some of the base’s personnel -- including engineers, scientists and technical employees -- would be transferred, experience showed that only 15% to 20% of them would actually relocate.

Other installations facing closure or downsizing are the Riverbank Army Ammunition Depot near Modesto and the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Barstow, whose representatives also appealed to the commission for reconsideration.

Also targeted are military facilities in Concord and Santa Clara County, along with the armed service reserve center in Bell; finance and accounting offices in Oakland, San Bernardino, San Diego and Seaside; Navy-Marine Reserve centers in Encino and Los Angeles; and the Onizuka Air Force Station in Santa Clara County.