JOINT BASE LANGLEY EUSTIS, Va. -- –
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Ross E. Ridge, Initial Military Training Center, Training and Doctrine Command deputy commanding general, hosted a Community Listening Session to discuss proposed Army force reductions and restructuring at Fort Eustis, Jan. 13.
"Fort Eustis is a significant place in the community," said Ridge. "It has over 10,000 employees that work on the installation, including 5,800 students that come through every year, bringing their friends and family during graduation."
Col. William Galbraith, 733rd Mission Support Group commander, said the forum's purpose was for community leaders, elected officials and the Fort Eustis workforce to offer comments regarding factors Army leadership should consider when making decisions about force reductions and the overarching restructure of the military.
Army leaders plan to reduce its end strength to between 440,000 and 420,000 active-component Soldiers by the end of fiscal year 2019, as outlined in the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review. Fort Eustis has a potential population loss of 4,300 Soldiers, versus the 2,700 loss that was first projected in 2013.
"The Army must reduce and reorganize the force structure required by the Budget Control Act of 2011, while staying postured to meet the nation's defense needs," said Galbraith. "Remember your voice counts, you are a part of the Army's overall analysis and community outreach program before the force structure and stationing decisions are made."
Community leaders in the likes of Virginia congressional representatives and the mayors of both Newport News and Hampton expressed their outlook on Fort Eustis and its importance to the local community.
"Hampton Roads and our Commonwealth simply have too much to lose," said Congressman Scott Rigell, 2nd Congressional District of Virginia. "Our men and women in uniform and their families deserve better. We all look forward to working with you in supporting the Fort Eustis community."
All topics discussed by the community leaders during the forum will be gathered in a report and sent to higher Army leadership in Washington to assist in their decision making process.