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PROPOSED PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In
January 2007, the President of the United States, on the recommendation
of the Secretary of Defense, announced that the Marine Corps would increase
its end strength from approximately 180,000 to 202,000 by 2011. This
increase is needed to provide adequate time to recover between deployments,
train to meet combat readiness, and prepare for redeployment. The purpose
of the proposed action is to ensure that Marines are properly prepared
and trained for existing combat and homeland protection missions and
future conflicts.
The
Marine Corps uses the Total Force Structure Process (TFSP) to transform
strategic guidance, policy constraints, and commander-generated recommendations
into the integrated capabilities required to execute Marine Corps missions.
The TFSP relies on a detailed, integrated examination of doctrine, organization,
training, materiel, leadership, personnel, and facilities, ensuring that
no aspect of the enterprise is ignored when new requirements for the
Corps are identified. In order to meet the purpose and need, the proposed
action of increasing the Marine Corps must be expedited while not compromising
the current Marine Corps missions. Existing force structure and organization
would be maintained in order to not further complicate, retard, or jeopardize
the Marine Corps mission. The proposed action accomplishes this by augmenting
existing units with Marines possessing the appropriate skill sets. These
existing units are already established at current Marine Corps bases.
Consequently, alternative bed-down locations to the proposed action are
not feasible because they would not meet the purpose and need of the
proposed action.
The
proposed action in North Carolina includes permanent personnel (military
and civilian) increases at MCB Camp Lejeune, MCAS New River, and MCAS
Cherry Point. By FY11, MCB Camp Lejeune would permanently increase personnel
by about 7,700, MCAS New River would increase by about 1,400, and at
MCAS Cherry Point permanent personnel would grow by approximately 800.
To support this growth, all three installations would need (at least
to some extent) to:
- Construct administrative, educational, training, maintenance, and
operations facilities; lodging accommodations (housing and mess halls);
Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facilities (fitness centers, medical/dental
clinics, child development centers);
- Demolish existing buildings and infrastructure;
- Construct and/or upgrade infrastructure (e.g., roads, power, and
communications) within the existing Mainside and cantonment areas
at MCB Camp Lejeune and Air Stations; and
- Support on-going and potentially expanded training mission.
The
four Proposed Action alternatives consist of various development scenarios.
The alternatives range from using and renovating existing facilities;
constructing new facilities; and a combination of constructing new and
using/renovating existing facilities. The No Action alternative, of not
permanently basing these Marines and associated personnel, is also examined.
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