Hansel Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 GF on list to be "realigned", Minot Fargo- not on list [url="http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=91609 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Thanks for the links. Hopefully the "realigned" isn't as bad as it looks in the Forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 I don't know what to think about this. It is a good thing that right now, it isn't going to be completely shut down, but will take a severe cut in personnel. I remember when Grand Forks wasn't on the list in 1995 when it came out, people celebrated, then at the last minute, it was added back on. So you really can't relax, no matter where you are, until the President signs off on the whole thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mksioux Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 The Forum article says the GFAFB will lose 2,290 military personnel, and then later in the story says that the GFAFB is home to 2,700 active duty military personnel. That's pretty much the entire base. It sounds like only a skeleton will remain. If the Forum is accurate, I wouldn't consider this good news. I guess we'll get more details as the day goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Thanks for the links. Hopefully the "realigned" isn't as bad as it looks in the Forum. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> By the word "bad" I meant the loss of a ton of jobs by the looks of it. Obviously I'm pleased that the base will remain open. Hopefully their will be a new mission to add some jobs back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 The Forum article says the GFAFB will lose 2,290 military personnel, and then later in the story says that the GFAFB is home to 2,700 active duty military personnel. That's pretty much the entire base. It sounds like only a skeleton will remain. If the Forum is accurate, I wouldn't consider this good news. I guess we'll get more details as the day goes on. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> They are accurate, here is alink to the closure and realignment list. pdf document http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections...se_CLosings.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mksioux Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Yea, I just found that and was going to link it. It doesn't look good. Maybe there will be some positives in the details, but at this point it looks like nearly a total loss. I wonder why they would want to keep a base open with 400 people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottM Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 I just heard a quote from Sen. Conrad on the radio and he said that even though Fargo wasn't on the list, he has seen "strong indications that it will be realigned". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Wow. They may just as well closed it, and freed up the facility for other uses, unless that possibility is still available. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was thinking the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star2city Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Wow. They may just as well closed it, and freed up the facility for other uses, unless that possibility is still available. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Would also agree, unless they are planning to base the new Global Hawks there: http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/11634458.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 WDAZ had an interesting story last night regarding cities that had their bases closed in the 90s and the impact it had on their communities. They did a nice piece on Rome, New York and it was interesting to listen to their city leaders talk about how people just assume that when the base closes, you are able to easily attract major businesses to use the base. One of the guys said the first thing everyone says is a major international cargo port will go in and he laughed, saying that might look to be a fitting thing, but hard thing to accomplish. Also touched on how the government doesn't turn the land and facilities back over to the cities all the time. They still own them and there are a lot of cases across the country where they shut down facilities and never let anything go into them. If that doesn't sound like a typical federal government operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Also touched on how the government doesn't turn the land and facilities back over to the cities all the time. They still own them and there are a lot of cases across the country where they shut down facilities and never let anything go into them. If that doesn't sound like a typical federal government operation. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You mean that John Hoff might not be able to open his art community out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 When I read Hoff's suffestions, I almost fell off the couch laughing. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I had the same reaction. Just picturing a bunch of artist-types wandering around an abandoned Air Force base in the middle of nowhere made me laugh. I suppose they could do some nice sidewalk art on the runway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 I hate the media mentality of "having to get the story first", instead of getting it right. A couple media outlets in this region, said yesterday that their "sources" had informed them that the Grand Forks base would be closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ESPNInsider Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Looks like Fargo will be re-alligned CRR when did Conrad say that? Story here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 I had the same reaction. Just picturing a bunch of artist-types wandering around an abandoned Air Force base in the middle of nowhere made me laugh. I suppose they could do some nice sidewalk art on the runway. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Talk about an economic boom to the community that would bring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Looks like Fargo will be re-alligned CRR when did Conrad say that? Story here <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I heard that this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdahl Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Herald's article from after the report was released reproduces a lot of the number-crunching/speculation from here. The Grand Forks base has about 2,700 active duty military personnel, and about 50 KC-135 tanker aircraft, which refuel planes in flight. The Pentagon recommendations say the base should lose 2,290 military personnel, or 85 percent of its contingent, and 355 civilian employees. ... the base would continue to be used as a base for unmanned "aero vehicles."And, as discussed: Fargo's Air National Guard base is not on the list, but officials said they had been informed the base may lose its F-16 fighter aircraft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaBison Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 pretty sure you're right about the F-16's heard that they are axing 20 units. with the hooligan's fighters being a little on the old side, it makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fedorov Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Last time I checked, Ellsworth was not in Sioux Falls. Good reporting Herald. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hansel Posted May 13, 2005 Author Share Posted May 13, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roper1313 Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Not in Grand Forks so maybe I'm missing something, but why the celabratory spin? If the BRAC recommendations go as is GF will loose 2200+ personal. How many numbers will the schools loose due to this? Must be at least a 1000. That is a huge drop in state and fed funding for the school district. IMHO this just sucks. I remember driving from Fargo to Rolla to visit my grandparents and waiting until we drove by the base with hopes of seeing a B-52 taking off. Droans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Not in Grand Forks so maybe I'm missing something, but why the celabratory spin? If the BRAC recommendations go as is GF will loose 2200+ personal. How many numbers will the schools loose due to this? Must be at least a 1000. That is a huge drop in state and fed funding for the school district. IMHO this just sucks. I remember driving from Fargo to Rolla to visit my grandparents and waiting until we drove by the base with hopes of seeing a B-52 taking off. Droans <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm not sure I have heard a lot of celebratory spin. I will say that the base isn't being closed and that is a good thing. It will be interesting to see what kinds of new missions the base receives. Earl Pomeroy was just on the radio saying that the Grand Forks base was cited in the Pentagon's report as being an ideal location for the unmaned drones . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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