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2. Purpose: Explain the importance of Ft A.P. Hill as a regional training center, highlight community concerns regarding future military training, and request assistance with addressing these concerns.Agenda: Ft A.P. Hill Mission (Importance of Past, Current
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Established as an Army Training Post – 11 June 1941
Served as a staging area for Patton’s Task Force A, Operation Torch
Staging area for European-bound units including VII Corps Headquarters and Third Armored Cavalry Regiment during Korean War
Mobilization station for MP units during Desert Storm
Training support platform for 92nd Separate Infantry Brigade (PR ARNG) mobilization during OIF
Today’s Mission, a Regional Training Center providing ongoing training support for conventional/unconventional joint and interagency units engaged in Homeland Defense and Overseas Contingency Operations
5. 5 As an orientation to Ft AP Hill’s location, the map depicts it approximately ˝ way between Richmond and Quantico with access off Int 95, Rt 17 and Rt 301. There is also a rail line with parallels the eastern boundary of the installation. As an orientation to Ft AP Hill’s location, the map depicts it approximately ˝ way between Richmond and Quantico with access off Int 95, Rt 17 and Rt 301. There is also a rail line with parallels the eastern boundary of the installation.
7. Night Vision & Electronic Sensors Directorate – Army
Naval Special Warfare Group 2 – Navy
29th Infantry Div - Virginia Army National Guard (multiple elements)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Dept. of Justice
Asymmetric Warfare Group – Army
80th Division Drill Sergeant School – USAR
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Cmd (MARSOC) - USMC
Geographic Information System Support Center – Army
Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) – Army
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9. 9 Good Afternoon… My Name is….. …and I am the CASCOM BRAC Lead. Now that Mr Strate has provided the background on Ft AP Hill, I’ll provide some additional information concerning CASCOM’s relationship with the installation and surrounding communities.
As you can see from the previous 2009 Component Utilization numbers to where we project FT AP Hill to be in 2012, it is still a very PURPLE post, but due to BRAC considerations and space constraints at Ft Lee, CASCOM’s presence at FT AP Hill will increase significantly as indicated by the lighter shaded green wedge.
Next Slide …
FY2012
Total Density estimated at 109K
Army (Other ) estimated at 27K
Army (CASCOM) estimated at 36K (57% of the Army total and 33% overall)Good Afternoon… My Name is….. …and I am the CASCOM BRAC Lead. Now that Mr Strate has provided the background on Ft AP Hill, I’ll provide some additional information concerning CASCOM’s relationship with the installation and surrounding communities.
As you can see from the previous 2009 Component Utilization numbers to where we project FT AP Hill to be in 2012, it is still a very PURPLE post, but due to BRAC considerations and space constraints at Ft Lee, CASCOM’s presence at FT AP Hill will increase significantly as indicated by the lighter shaded green wedge.
Next Slide …
FY2012
Total Density estimated at 109K
Army (Other ) estimated at 27K
Army (CASCOM) estimated at 36K (57% of the Army total and 33% overall)
10. 10 The recommendation from the 2005 BRAC Commission consolidates Combat Service Support (CSS) training and doctrine development at Fort Lee. The Commission “found the capacity of Fort Lee sufficient to meet the new training requirements created by consolidating four of CASCOM’s schools onto the installation, except for insufficient land and space available to conduct Warrior Training involving heavy weapons and explosives. In the findings portion of the BRAC report, the Commission determined that the shortfall can be successfully mitigated by the use of nearby training sites at Fort Pickett, which has sufficient acreage to support all requirements.”
One key point to make is that the reference to mitigating training shortfalls at Ft. Lee by having some training at Ft. Pickett as a “commission finding,” which is not the same as a “commission recommendation.” It is the recommendations that are incorporated into BRAC law and the final decision on the location for the training was left to the Army to decide.
Starting in 2005, CASCOM explored Ft Pickett as a potential location for EOD training , the installation was deemed not suitable for the training requirement due to Ft Pickett’s priority requirements to support Reserve Component units. Training areas were not available to be dedicated to the EOD training mission.
As a conclusion to its analysis, Ft AP Hill was determined to be a suitable site for the EOD training due to its available compatible training areas.
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Fort Pickett’s established training priorities
mobilized troops pre-deployment training for National Guard Soldiers on pre-deployment orders
National Guard units on Annual Training receiving an external evaluation
National Guard units on Annual Training cycle and
National Guard Inactive Duty Training Units. The recommendation from the 2005 BRAC Commission consolidates Combat Service Support (CSS) training and doctrine development at Fort Lee. The Commission “found the capacity of Fort Lee sufficient to meet the new training requirements created by consolidating four of CASCOM’s schools onto the installation, except for insufficient land and space available to conduct Warrior Training involving heavy weapons and explosives. In the findings portion of the BRAC report, the Commission determined that the shortfall can be successfully mitigated by the use of nearby training sites at Fort Pickett, which has sufficient acreage to support all requirements.”
One key point to make is that the reference to mitigating training shortfalls at Ft. Lee by having some training at Ft. Pickett as a “commission finding,” which is not the same as a “commission recommendation.” It is the recommendations that are incorporated into BRAC law and the final decision on the location for the training was left to the Army to decide.
Starting in 2005, CASCOM explored Ft Pickett as a potential location for EOD training , the installation was deemed not suitable for the training requirement due to Ft Pickett’s priority requirements to support Reserve Component units. Training areas were not available to be dedicated to the EOD training mission.
As a conclusion to its analysis, Ft AP Hill was determined to be a suitable site for the EOD training due to its available compatible training areas.
______________________Next Slide
Fort Pickett’s established training priorities
mobilized troops pre-deployment training for National Guard Soldiers on pre-deployment orders
National Guard units on Annual Training receiving an external evaluation
National Guard units on Annual Training cycle and
National Guard Inactive Duty Training Units.
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12. 12 Our Warrior Training Exercise is a culminating event to a student's Warrior Task and Battle Drill training. Again, due to limited training space at Ft Lee, we will conduct this training at Ft AP Hill. We are currently building a training site at Ft AP Hill which replicates an austere Forward Operating Base in theater with security towers, entrance control points, mission rehearsal areas and life support facilities (showers, latrines and dinning).
Almost every week a new group of approximately 700 Soldiers will execute the training under the control of a small permanent cadre, a contractor support group and the chain of command from one of our AIT training Battalions.
The training is multi-echelon combining new AIT students, NCOs attending their Advanced Leader Course as well as new lieutenants attending their Basic Officer Leadership Course all as one training audience.
The training will focus on both Warrior Tasks as well as job specific tasks associated with each specialty - whether Ordnance, Quartermaster or Transportation.
The new facilities for this training are currently under construction with an estimated phased completion date starting this JULY.Our Warrior Training Exercise is a culminating event to a student's Warrior Task and Battle Drill training. Again, due to limited training space at Ft Lee, we will conduct this training at Ft AP Hill. We are currently building a training site at Ft AP Hill which replicates an austere Forward Operating Base in theater with security towers, entrance control points, mission rehearsal areas and life support facilities (showers, latrines and dinning).
Almost every week a new group of approximately 700 Soldiers will execute the training under the control of a small permanent cadre, a contractor support group and the chain of command from one of our AIT training Battalions.
The training is multi-echelon combining new AIT students, NCOs attending their Advanced Leader Course as well as new lieutenants attending their Basic Officer Leadership Course all as one training audience.
The training will focus on both Warrior Tasks as well as job specific tasks associated with each specialty - whether Ordnance, Quartermaster or Transportation.
The new facilities for this training are currently under construction with an estimated phased completion date starting this JULY.
13. CASCOM is currently exploring the possibility of purchasing from Virginia Railway Express, and placing into operation, a train set which would be used to transport Soldiers from Ft Lee to a railhead near Ft AP Hill (Milford Station). We are working with the VA Department of Rail and Public Trans, Army Corp of Engineers, the Army Reserve, members of the US House of Representatives (VA-01 & VA-04) and CSX on the potential for rail between the installations.
Numerous meeting have been held developing this project. CASCOM’s current concept of operations entails embarking approximately 700 Soldiers once a week on Sunday at the rail head on Ft Lee. These are the Soldiers who will be participating in the Warrior Training Exercise at Ft AP Hill and who otherwise would move by bus. Currently, the plan calls for the Soldiers to disembark at Milford Station in Bowling Green. Four days later the train returns and the Soldiers we embark at Milford for the return trip to Ft Lee.
The Train Set provides several important qualitative improvements over bus transport. These include the most important, safety. We believe , and safety stats support, that using the train set and keeping the buses off I-95 is the safer option. Other benefits include : overall less traffic on I-95 and the other routes used; instant surge capacity as the train has more capacity than is routinely required; the trains will produce lower emissions than the buses; and there is the potential for cross-training our Army train operators.
Next Slide…
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Spur not briefed
Ideally, there would be a rail spur directly onto the installation. This would save time and significant costs as the train could remain at FT AP Hill until the return trip 4 days later. The rail spur would also serve another purpose as it would open FT AP Hill up to direct freight deliveries to include combat vehicles thereby reducing transport costs and expanding the potential training opportunities. I believe both the Marines and several National Guard Stryker units have expressed an interest in railing equipment directly to Ft AP Hill. We are currently continuing to work with the Corps of Engineers and other partners on the possible courses of action regarding the rail spur. CASCOM is currently exploring the possibility of purchasing from Virginia Railway Express, and placing into operation, a train set which would be used to transport Soldiers from Ft Lee to a railhead near Ft AP Hill (Milford Station). We are working with the VA Department of Rail and Public Trans, Army Corp of Engineers, the Army Reserve, members of the US House of Representatives (VA-01 & VA-04) and CSX on the potential for rail between the installations.
Numerous meeting have been held developing this project. CASCOM’s current concept of operations entails embarking approximately 700 Soldiers once a week on Sunday at the rail head on Ft Lee. These are the Soldiers who will be participating in the Warrior Training Exercise at Ft AP Hill and who otherwise would move by bus. Currently, the plan calls for the Soldiers to disembark at Milford Station in Bowling Green. Four days later the train returns and the Soldiers we embark at Milford for the return trip to Ft Lee.
The Train Set provides several important qualitative improvements over bus transport. These include the most important, safety. We believe , and safety stats support, that using the train set and keeping the buses off I-95 is the safer option. Other benefits include : overall less traffic on I-95 and the other routes used; instant surge capacity as the train has more capacity than is routinely required; the trains will produce lower emissions than the buses; and there is the potential for cross-training our Army train operators.
Next Slide…
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Spur not briefed
Ideally, there would be a rail spur directly onto the installation. This would save time and significant costs as the train could remain at FT AP Hill until the return trip 4 days later. The rail spur would also serve another purpose as it would open FT AP Hill up to direct freight deliveries to include combat vehicles thereby reducing transport costs and expanding the potential training opportunities. I believe both the Marines and several National Guard Stryker units have expressed an interest in railing equipment directly to Ft AP Hill. We are currently continuing to work with the Corps of Engineers and other partners on the possible courses of action regarding the rail spur.
14. 14 I will now briefly summarize some of the concerns from some of the communities around Ft AP Hill regarding the movement of the EOD and Warrior Training to the installation and what CASCOM has done to address these concerns.I will now briefly summarize some of the concerns from some of the communities around Ft AP Hill regarding the movement of the EOD and Warrior Training to the installation and what CASCOM has done to address these concerns.
15. 15 CASCOM and Ft AP Hill have worked hard to ensure everyone in the community who wanted to express an opinion about the movement of our EOD and WTX training missions had an opportunity to be heard. Ft AP Hill voluntarily extended the public comment period five times that which is required by law.
From participating in several public forums and a military and community working group, it appears to me that the majority of concerns of the community members can be grouped into several categories: Quality of life, mission creep, and disparate development objectives.
Bullet 1 – Regarding Quality of Life being impacted off post due to noise intrusion, both live testing and Standard Noise Modeling indicate that noise levels off-post will not be significant enough to degrade Quality of Life; both means also indicated that noise levels off post will certainly not reach the levels where structural damage is possible (136 dBP).
Bullet 2 – In regards to Mission Creep - We are committed to the adjustments we have made in our training and any future modifications would require another NEPA process. Mission creep from EOD and WTX will not happen without community input and involvement in the process.
Bullet 3 – Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program
Bullet 4 – I’ll discuss the last bullet further on the next slideCASCOM and Ft AP Hill have worked hard to ensure everyone in the community who wanted to express an opinion about the movement of our EOD and WTX training missions had an opportunity to be heard. Ft AP Hill voluntarily extended the public comment period five times that which is required by law.
From participating in several public forums and a military and community working group, it appears to me that the majority of concerns of the community members can be grouped into several categories: Quality of life, mission creep, and disparate development objectives.
Bullet 1 – Regarding Quality of Life being impacted off post due to noise intrusion, both live testing and Standard Noise Modeling indicate that noise levels off-post will not be significant enough to degrade Quality of Life; both means also indicated that noise levels off post will certainly not reach the levels where structural damage is possible (136 dBP).
Bullet 2 – In regards to Mission Creep - We are committed to the adjustments we have made in our training and any future modifications would require another NEPA process. Mission creep from EOD and WTX will not happen without community input and involvement in the process.
Bullet 3 – Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program
Bullet 4 – I’ll discuss the last bullet further on the next slide
16. 16 This slide depicts the “Golden Crescent”.
The term usually refers to the area of metropolitan development between Baltimore and Norfolk.
As you can see Caroline County and Ft AP Hill are in the center of this region with development spreading from both the north and south towards it.
The location, in the center of the region, with nearby access to Int 95, a rail freight line and a future passenger line will make Caroline County attractive to developers.
Likewise, Ft AP Hill’s location is attractive and important from a military training and stationing perspective –
-centrally located between numerous military installations (Aberdeen Proving Grounds in the north to Oceana Naval Air Station in the south)
-convenient access to the same road or rail corridors
-and open space for training – which is hard to find on the east coast
From the CASCOM and Ft AP Hill’s perspective, there is an opportunity to continue to develop Caroline County and Ft AP Hill together – they are not mutually exclusive and can be worked to the mutual benefit of both with a cooperative effort of current and future partners.
This slide depicts the “Golden Crescent”.
The term usually refers to the area of metropolitan development between Baltimore and Norfolk.
As you can see Caroline County and Ft AP Hill are in the center of this region with development spreading from both the north and south towards it.
The location, in the center of the region, with nearby access to Int 95, a rail freight line and a future passenger line will make Caroline County attractive to developers.
Likewise, Ft AP Hill’s location is attractive and important from a military training and stationing perspective –
-centrally located between numerous military installations (Aberdeen Proving Grounds in the north to Oceana Naval Air Station in the south)
-convenient access to the same road or rail corridors
-and open space for training – which is hard to find on the east coast
From the CASCOM and Ft AP Hill’s perspective, there is an opportunity to continue to develop Caroline County and Ft AP Hill together – they are not mutually exclusive and can be worked to the mutual benefit of both with a cooperative effort of current and future partners.
17. Changes to Proposed EOD Actions Reduce large demo charge limit from 50 to 25 lbs Net Explosive Weight (NEW).
All blasts now fall within a range of 0.25 lbs to 25 lbs NEW.
Majority of blasts (90%) are within 0.25 lbs to 1.25 lbs NEW.
Limit demolitions closest to the installation perimeter to 0.25 lbs NEW.
Reduced the infrequent, nighttime (after 10 p.m.) charges to 0.25 lbs NEW.
Developed 3 zones with explosive limits (See map)
Turning now to another specific concern of the community, noise levels which will be created by the movement of the EOD Training Department to FT AP Hill.
I believe we have heard the community and individual concerns and they have had an impact in the proposed courses of action and the training profiles the EOD training facility will follow. Explosive weights have been cut in half, specific zones have been established as to where charges of certain weights may be detonated and the number of nighttime events has been reduced.
One of the reasons the site selected for our EOD training department is that the area was previously a demolition range. This slide depicts the entire planned EOD training area and how we have restricted the size of various demolitions in order to limit, as much as possible, any noise intrusion off post.
-In general we have reduced the size of the blasts by 50%
-moved the larger blasts away from the perimeter
-reduced frequency and size of night time blasts and are
-working with FAPH to avoid inclement weather for larger blasts
(As atmospherics play a significant roll is noise promulgation)Turning now to another specific concern of the community, noise levels which will be created by the movement of the EOD Training Department to FT AP Hill.
I believe we have heard the community and individual concerns and they have had an impact in the proposed courses of action and the training profiles the EOD training facility will follow. Explosive weights have been cut in half, specific zones have been established as to where charges of certain weights may be detonated and the number of nighttime events has been reduced.
One of the reasons the site selected for our EOD training department is that the area was previously a demolition range. This slide depicts the entire planned EOD training area and how we have restricted the size of various demolitions in order to limit, as much as possible, any noise intrusion off post.
-In general we have reduced the size of the blasts by 50%
-moved the larger blasts away from the perimeter
-reduced frequency and size of night time blasts and are
-working with FAPH to avoid inclement weather for larger blasts
(As atmospherics play a significant roll is noise promulgation)
18. 18 Hopefully, our presentation has provided an appreciation of Ft AP Hill’s importance as a regional training center not only to the Active Army, but also to sister services, the Reserve Components, DoD activities, federal agencies. I understand our EOD training department has already had contact with the Virginia State Police Bomb Disposal Tm in regards to future training opportunities.
We do need assistance working with the local communities. There are many benefits associated with FAPH – economic, environmental, training and possibly even crisis response. We, CASCOM, and even FAPH are sometimes seen as biased by the local communities, and any input from other activities would certainly help balance the discussion.
I believe CASCOM has been very diligent in accommodating the communities’ and Ft AP Hill’s concerns in regards to the EOD training. If we are to meet BRAC Law, and not disrupt this very important training which is so critical to our service members’ operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, we need to now move forward with the project.
The reality of BRAC 2005 is that the partnership between Ft Lee and Ft AP Hill is growing and will continue to evolve and formalize in the future. We request your support in building and strengthening this relation.
And finally, I believe that if additional non-training focused activities made their home at Ft AP Hill bringing with them stable jobs with good incomes, the communities around Ft AP Hill would appreciate the opportunity to welcome them to the installation.Hopefully, our presentation has provided an appreciation of Ft AP Hill’s importance as a regional training center not only to the Active Army, but also to sister services, the Reserve Components, DoD activities, federal agencies. I understand our EOD training department has already had contact with the Virginia State Police Bomb Disposal Tm in regards to future training opportunities.
We do need assistance working with the local communities. There are many benefits associated with FAPH – economic, environmental, training and possibly even crisis response. We, CASCOM, and even FAPH are sometimes seen as biased by the local communities, and any input from other activities would certainly help balance the discussion.
I believe CASCOM has been very diligent in accommodating the communities’ and Ft AP Hill’s concerns in regards to the EOD training. If we are to meet BRAC Law, and not disrupt this very important training which is so critical to our service members’ operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, we need to now move forward with the project.
The reality of BRAC 2005 is that the partnership between Ft Lee and Ft AP Hill is growing and will continue to evolve and formalize in the future. We request your support in building and strengthening this relation.
And finally, I believe that if additional non-training focused activities made their home at Ft AP Hill bringing with them stable jobs with good incomes, the communities around Ft AP Hill would appreciate the opportunity to welcome them to the installation.