But Is The Base Ready?

Despite pleas from supporters hoping to keep Otis National Guard Base open, it perhaps isn't surprising that the Base Realignment And Closure Commission agreed Friday with the Pentagon's recommendation to close the Cape Cod (MA) facility.

What does raise eyebrows, however, is where Otis's fighter jets would call home should that decision become final.

In a move that appears -- at first glance, anyway -- to be borne of at least some political maneuvering, and not necessarily the military's logistical needs, Barnes Air National Guard base in Westfield (MA) would become the new home of the 18 F-15s currently stationed at Otis.

Trouble is, Barnes is not currently set up to handle the needs of air-to-air fighter jets. The base is located at Barnes Municipal Airport (BAF,) a location whose longest runway is 9,000 ft -- perfectly fine for the A-10s currently stationed there, but cutting it close for an F-15.

Within minutes of the BRAC vote, Massachusetts state officials talked of overturning it, with Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly saying the fight on behalf of Otis “is far from done.”

Those fighting to keep the base open maintain that Otis has been a hub in the nation’s anti-terror network. The base also launched fighters during the Sept. 11 attacks.

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said the commission didn’t appear to follow the law, which requires it to consider factors including Otis’ military value and whether shutting a base would save money or weaken homeland security. Oliver Mason, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, said the move would be extremely disruptive.

“We’re very disappointed. We did not expect this,” he said.

“What we have now is some issues in front of us that we’re going to have to deal with regarding two bases, not one.”

Kennedy said state leaders were “baffled” by the decision.

“They might have good reasons for it, but it defies logic, it defies intuition, it defies understanding. It makes no sense at all,” the Massachusetts senator said.

Otis is one of about 30 Air Guard bases slated to be closed or downsized under the DOD plan. The panel has until Sept. 8 to send its final report to President Bush. The president can accept it, reject it or send it back for revisions.

If implemented, changes at all affected bases would occur over the next six years.

FMI: www.defenselink.mil/brac/