Sequestration will force tough choices for Army in Hawaii

On Jan. 9, at the invitation of the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, the U.S. Army Pacific commander, Gen. Vincent Brooks, presented information to its annual meeting about the U.S. Army in the Pacific — illustrating our long history here, why Hawaii matters to the U.S. Army, why the U.S. Army ought to matter to Hawaii, and the possible reductions in force that may result if the Budget Control Act (aka sequestration) is not relieved.

If this law remains as it is, the Army will have to make tough choices to mitigate the impacts. Fort Shafter and Schofield Barracks are among 30 locations across the nation that may face significant cuts. For Hawaii, in the worst case scenario, this means the possible reduction of 19,800 soldiers and civilian employees, with accompanying families and support services. The potential effects both at the local and national level are considerable.

The Army has been part of the fabric of Hawaii since 1898. It is as important today as it has ever been. The Army in Hawaii has and will continue to project power from this strategic location. We are able to strengthen Pacific partnerships and alliances preventing future conflicts and protecting national economic interests. We are better integrated with our sister services and continue to improve joint capability because of Hawaii’s unique location and training environment. Today, as it has been for over 116 years, Hawaii is a strategic asset for our nation.

The Army is proud of our contributions to Hawaii, both past and present. Among them, and in partnership with the state, we built the Ala Wai watershed, literally paving the way for Waikiki and what is now downtown Honolulu; we’ve built roads and harbors providing means for commerce; we spend over $12 million annually protecting precious natural resources and cultural sites here.

Hawaii hosts over 22,500 soldiers and our families, or roughly 44 percent of all active military forces based here. One of every three defense dollars spent in the state comes from the Army’s presence. By our calculations, the U.S. Army’s impact to Hawaii’s economy was in excess of $3 billion in 2013 alone.

The Army is gathering public input as it considers the effects of possible force reductions. Representatives from Army headquarters in Washington, D.C., and I have scheduled community listening sessions as the primary venue for gathering public comments on the impact of such cuts.

Two listening sessions are scheduled: Jan. 27 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki, and on Jan. 28 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Leilehua High School in Wahiawa. Regardless of one’s position on this issue, I encourage all interested parties to provide input directly to the Army in these sessions.