Udall, Bennet Welcome Army's Intent to Study Locating Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Carson

Statement

Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet announced that the Army has narrowed the list of potential places to locate a 13th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) to two locations - Colorado's Fort Carson and Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. According to the Army, the two bases are the only stationing alternatives that meet all of its requirements. The 13th CAB, one of two being created, is scheduled to be fielded in Fiscal Year 2013.

The Army now intends to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to evaluate the impacts of construction and renovation of garrison facilities and additional training needed to support the establishment and realignment of aviation units. The alternatives the Army will consider in the study include: 1) realigning and consolidating the existing aviation elements of up to a full CAB at Fort Carson or Joint Base Lewis-McChord; 2) implementing those actions and establishing a new CAB stationed at Fort Carson or Joint Base Lewis-McChord; and 3) no-action.

According to the Army's notice of its intention to begin the PEIS, aviation units would conduct training on existing land in order to maintain training proficiency and support integrated training with ground units. Land acquisition is not being considered as part of this action.

"The PEIS is welcome news and a step that is critical to locate a new CAB at Fort Carson," Senator Udall said. "I've expressed to the Army's top leaders that Fort Carson is the ideal location for the 13th CAB. Coloradans are incredibly proud of Fort Carson. It has the right infrastructure and training opportunities - as well as tremendous quality of life on base and in nearby Colorado Springs. And a new CAB would give soldiers stationed there new training opportunities that are critical to mission success and soldier safety."

"Fort Carson's 4th Infantry Division is without a Combat Aviation Brigade, despite having the existing capacity to accommodate one," Senator Bennet said. "A new brigade would allow Fort Carson soldiers to work more closely with aircraft before they deploy, ensuring better preparation for combat. Additionally, adding a new brigade would bring new opportunities for job creation and economic development to Southern Colorado."

Earlier this year, Senators Udall and Bennet joined other members of the Colorado congressional delegation in sending a letter to the top two Army officials, Secretary John McHugh and General George Casey, urging them to consider locating the 13th CAB at Fort Carson. A NEPA analysis conducted for the Grow the Army Stationing Decision in March 2009 evaluated the impacts of the potential stationing of a CAB at Fort Carson, determining that Fort Carson has ample training facilities for an aviation brigade.

According to the Army's notice of the intention to begin a PEIS, both Fort Carson and Joint Base Lewis-McChord have several positive attributes that set them apart from other locations, including: an existing runway and airfield, adequate maneuver and airspace for CAB operations, and existing aviation training ranges. Both are the home to three or more ground-maneuver Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs), allowing the Army to maximize integrated air-ground training. They are the only major installations that have three or more BCTs but no CAB dedicated to provide aviation support for training.

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