by Glenn Tschimpke
Staff Writer
When it comes to Jacksonville’s military presence, most people know the area is home to three Navy bases, lots of ships, airplanes, helicopters and sailors. What is often forgotten is the military’s role in Jacksonville’s economy.
Sixteen of every 100 Jacksonville residents are in some way connected to a military paycheck, either through active duty, retiree, reservist, dependent, civilian employee or other.
“I think they’re generally overlooked and taken for granted,” said retired Rear Adm. Kevin Delaney. “I think there’s a great air of complacency. Everybody says nice things about the military and they like having the military here, but I don’t think they really have a full appreciation of the $6.47 billion economic impact that the military presence in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia makes.”
The Department of Defense’s next scheduled round of Base Realignment and Closures is in 2005. While Naval Air Station Cecil Field was a victim to past BRACs, it doesn’t mean Jacksonville’s remaining bases are forever safe. Delaney gives an ominous warning regarding the next round of closures when the DOD turns its sights on the First Coast.
“I think there’s a great amount of complacency among several of our elected officials who don’t think BRAC is going to happen or that we’re going to get hit. I think there are several vulnerabilities that need to be addressed and need to be addressed now, not later.”
Item number one: make sure Naval Station Mayport is capable of accommodating a nuclear powered aircraft carrier.
While Mayport Naval Station as a whole appears insulated from closure, the fate of resident USS John F. Kennedy could play an integral role in the base’s future. The Kennedy is one of a few aging non-nuclear carriers still in service. As the Navy shuffles its ships to accommodate global demands, Mayport will require certain upgrades to stay out of BRAC’s eye.
“In 2007, the Kennedy is scheduled to go to Japan as the last oil-burning carrier in the Navy,” said Delaney. “The Japanese won’t allow a nuclear carrier in Japan. Mayport suddenly becomes very vulnerable if it doesn’t have nuclear capability.”
To accommodate a nuclear powered aircraft carrier, Mayport would require a deepened harbor and dock improvements. Neither look likely in the near future. For its part, the City has shown its commitment to the base with the Wonderwood Connector, which will link Mayport Road with Arlington to ease traffic congestion.
In the interim, the Kennedy is due for rework once it returns from its oversees deployment later this year. There was a fear the Navy would send the Kennedy elsewhere to perform the work, taking its 2,500 member crew and $60 million payroll with it. However, local congressional representatives say the ship will stay in Mayport for the duration of the estimated $250 million, 12-month overhaul.
Item number two: save the Naval Aviation Depot at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Delaney seems less optimistic about the fate of NADEP, one of three depot-level maintenance facilities fleet-wide. One is in California and two are on the East Coast. Given the Navy’s tendency toward polar equity, it could come down to Jacksonville vs. Cherry Point, N.C.
“The one in North Carolina is Marine Corps,” added Delaney. “Jax NADEP is Navy. Leave one for the Navy and one for the Marines and spread the work around. It’s not a gloom and doom scenario, but you can certainly see that people can start jockeying around. Even though this NADEP has been more cost effective in several areas, it could still be vulnerable to politics.”
The Jacksonville NADEP is also relatively smaller than the other two, which could also play a factor in future BRAC decisions. Because NADEP is federally controlled, local entities can offer only limited assistance.
“I think working with JEA and the City to further reduce any utility rates to make NADEP more efficient and cost effective would cut down on their overhead,” said Delaney.
Item three: the Marines must purchase their land on Blount Island.
The Marine Corps Blount Island Command was established in 1989 as a logistics center, which supplies equipment and food to forces around the world. While the military’s involvement in Afghanistan reinforces the need for the Blount Island Command, Delaney stressed that certain measures must be taken to make sure the Marines stay in Jacksonville. “I think it’s very important the Marine Corps own Blount Island and not lease it,” he said. “That’s 1,200 jobs on the Northside. It’s real easy to walk away from a lease and go someplace else.”
To retain the Blount Island Command, the federal government has earmarked $120 million in the 2004 budget to purchase the eastern half of Blount Island.