New Jersey is currently facing the possible closure of some of our military bases as the federal government is currently undergoing a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.
This process could prove particularly devastating to residents of Monmouth County, where a great deal of the local economy depends on Fort Monmouth.
Fort Monmouth serves a unique role in the U.S. military, as the site of CECOM (Communications-Electronics Command), which provides cutting-edge technology necessary to our troops worldwide. It is critical that this operation remain in New Jersey, where the military can access a highly concentrated and skilled science and engineering work force. The state’s educational infrastructure promises a steady stream of qualified scientists and engineers for decades to come. Quite literally, the safety of our soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere depends on the work that these employees do, and an interruption of that work would put them at risk.
The approximately 3,600 civilian employees of Fort Monmouth, and their families, would obviously be in very difficult positions if the fort were closed. But in order to consider the full effect of a closure, one must also take into account the many local businesses that work closely with CECOM, employees of which might also be out of work if the Fort Monmouth were to close.
CECOM often requires the help of outside contractors, many of which have set up shop on Industrial Way in Eatontown and other Monmouth County locations near the base. The closure of Fort Monmouth and the relocation of CECOM would require CECOM to identify new contractors who may not be as familiar with the needs of the operation. Contractors that opt to relocate will likely lose many of their skilled employees.
One must also consider what would become of the land on which Fort Monmouth is situated if the Department of Defense decided to close it. Would the land be open to development? In an area where residents are already struggling to pay their property taxes, Monmouth County residents can not be expected to foot the bill for larger schools, more police officers, and improved infrastructure to accommodate the increased population that would result.
Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Fort Monmouth served as the central command setting for all of the military operations taking place in New York City. The convenient location of the base helped our armed forces to assist the victims and their families.
New Jersey is positioned strategically at the center of the East Coast, and is therefore an excellent site for the placement of strategic defenses. It is critical that we have U.S. military nearby to guard sensitive areas like Port Elizabeth/Port Newark, which is the largest container terminal on the East Coast, the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Newark Liberty Airport and our nearby cities and transportation facilities. Closing Fort Monmouth or any other military base in New Jersey would put these facilities at risk, and threaten the safety of our residents at a time when the federal government has already turned its back on New Jersey by withdrawing many of our homeland security funds.
While we fully understand the need to make the U.S. military as efficient as possible, we advise the Department of Defense and the BRAC Committee to look elsewhere for areas to cut back. New Jersey needs its military bases to remain open.
Michael J. Panter
Shrewsbury
Dr. Robert L. Morgan
Little Silver
Democratic Assemblymen
12th Legislative District