BRAC Coming to a Military Base Near You

Due to (BRAC), tomorrow most likely in Southern Maine and the New Hampshire seacoast will be referred to as Friday the 13th or Black Friday. The .The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard will most likely wind up on the base closure list along with many others around the country. Many eyes will be on BRAC, The Base Realignment and Closure Commission list tomorrow as the closures this time will be effecting many states.

I do not have a horse in this race, although I do have friends that work on the base. The local newspapers have had a constant barrage of editorials and stories claiming the shipyard closure would ruin the economy. I am not completely sure I buy that argument as the local economy has changed so drastically from the day when the last round of closures occurred and Pease Air Force Base was closed. Like it or not the Portsmouth, NH & Kittery, ME area is fueled by tourism as seen by the complete transformation of the downtown Portsmouth area. Also the influx of Bostonians fleeing the city, traffic and taxes have transformed the area as well.

There has been a concerted effort by the shipyard to prevent the shipyard from being put on the base closure list as seen by the 9000 letters to Rusmsfeld and a protest march that was done recently. Many of which I believe had good intension I just wonder whether in some cases it may have been too little too late.

I will continue posting through out the day on some of the positives and negatives that come with base closure. Things that can be done and should have been done. I would compare base closures to down sizing in the private sector of the economy. No one likes them to happen in their area but they are a necessary evil and do occur. I believe if it were me and my job and livelihood was on the line that I would do everything humanly possible to save my job. EVERYTHING.

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