Proper usage of old bases - transition

It's good to hear that some states are being smart. In Michigan we lost 3 active duty SAC bases - the last two were in the middle of multi-million dollar renovations at the time of their closures - but they kept the upgrade contracts going even thought the bases were shutting down (should have ended the contracts). They could have moved the Grand Ledge Helicopter unit and the Battle Creek Air National Guard unit (had A-10's at the time) to the last active base that was closing and made a joint close combat support base (but that would have been the smart move). The governor's of the states should have some say in the National Guard unit's within their states (even if the assets are federally funded) - the National Guard unit's are more then just relief for the active duty components - they respond to disasters both in their respective states, nationally and around the world.

Same thing here in Oregon. Camp Umatilla was an old chemical weapon depot, that has been decommissioned, so the Guard took it over and it is now a training camp...Camp Umatilla Oregon, if you attend and leadership Guard schools, you may make it put here to see me...

In a lot of cases that is what happens. In Massachusetts Camp Edwards/Otis AFB fell victim to BRAC back in the late 80s/early 90s and the Guard took it over. It has since merged with the Coast Guard air station and become Joint Base Cape Cod.

They did the same in Alabama with Ft. McClellan. AD moved out and the NG moved in.

Ft. Devens in MA is another example. They kept the ranges, the vehicle maintenance facility and the barracks areas. NG and Reserves took those areas over. The rest was sold off as commercial property.