European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 13, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Germany edition the stars and stripes. Vol. 49, no. 362 saturday april 13,1991 b authorized unofficial publication for the us. Armed forces 350 d 8693 Achenes lists 71 . Bases to dose Down scale Back by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a defense Secretary Dick Cheney unveiled on Friday a list of 71 . Facilities that he wants to close or scale Down Over the next few years. The list is the first to be submitted to a base closure and realignment commission established last year to minimize the partisan bickering that inevitably erupts among lawmakers whose districts encompass targeted bases. A fall of this is driven by the changing world environment a Cheney said at a Pentagon news briefing. A by 1995, the number of people in the military will be about one fourth smaller than it is today. Smaller forces need fewer bases. Its As simple As that. There Are now about 2 million people in the nations armed forces. The list identifies 31 major Domestic bases and 12 minor installations for shutdown and recommends realigning or scaling Down operations at 28 others. The estimated Cost of closing the facilities is $5.7 billion from fiscal 1992 to fiscal 1997 while savings will amount to about $6.5 billion leaving a net gain of about $850 million. A Quot Cheney a recommendations would result in the loss of 55,627 civilian jobs but would create 21,611 at other locations that would absorb activities from the bases that Are closing or Are being scaled Back. Among the seven major army facilities on the list to be closed Are fort Mcclellan ala., fort Ord Calif. Fort Benjamin Harrison ind. Fort do vans mass. And fort Dix in Wrightstown . Fort Ord the major combat troop base that would be affected houses the 7th inf div Light which is mov see bases on Page 10 More than 30 facilities in Europe affected planned european installation closings is \ by the stars and Stripe the army a imposing Merrell Barracks in Niernberg Germany Heads the list of More than ,30 . Military installations in Europe due to be shut Down or partially vacated. The Marble faced Barracks the Headquarters of the 2nd army Cav regt has been largely empty since december when most of the regiments troops deployed to the Middle East. Normally about 1,500 soldiers work on the Post a former is training facility located near what served As hitlers Parade grounds in the City. In addition to Merrell 26 . Military installations in Germany have been pegged for closure or partial closure Between now and fiscal 1995, european come officials announced Friday. Three installations in England one in Turkey and one in Spain Are also affected by the latest round of closures. A fourth facility in England will be put on standby status the officials said. Rohre see Cavern in Bayreuth another of the 2nd army Cav regt a Sites will close As will All of the regiments Border Camps. They include Camp May near Regen Camp Reed near Rotz Camp Gates near Mark Redwitz Camp Harris in Coburg and Camp Hof in Hof. The Camps have not been used to patrol the Border since March of last year. Regimental Sites at Bundlach Bamberg and Amberg and the Feucht army Airfield were not included in the closure announcement so a that should clearly prohibit speculation about deactivation a spokesman Winfried Blimmel said. A we have no information at All to indicate the regiment is going to move to the United states or be deactivated a he said. A we also have no idea about any. Moves within  soldiers front the 2nd army Cav regt Are part of vol corps forces pulling Back from Iraq to saudi Arabia. Vii corps is expected to begin returning Large numbers of troops to Germany next month. Three Border observations posts belonging to the 11th army Cav regt in Fulda Germany also will be shut Down and returned to the germans. The posts were identified As Alpha India and Romeo. Camp Lee will be partially returned to German use. The regiment patrolled about 19.0 Miles along the former East German Border according to Walter Nebgen a v corps spokesman. Nebgen said the unit was ordered to reduce its presence along the Border last year and to focus More on training and maintenance. The posts were no longer continuously manned after that time he said. Norfi sen $ Here s a breakdown of the 33 facilities affected by the . European come s announcement on Friday. A United kingdom four installations i 9 i Germany 27 installations Spain one installation Turkey one installation for a Complete listing of bases see Page 10. Nebgen who has conducted numerous Media Tours of the area since 1976, said the Alpha Post almost touched the former East. German Border. A if you were on top of Alpha and dropped a cigarette butt it was on East German territory a he said. Nebgen estimated that the facilities would be returned to German use within two years. A amps Susan Harris in England the Al 11 base at Raf upper Scyford will revert to standby status in 1994, base officials said. A caretaker Force of 500 . Military and about 140 . And British civilians will remain behind a Safe spokesman said. The closing process will Start in Early see facilities on Page 10 offered to Gulf vets by the stars and stripes beginning next month the . Army in Europe will Reward its personnel who took part in operation desert shield and operation desert storm with free min vacations at military hotels in Berchtesgaden Germany. The program will temporarily keep open the armed forces recreation Center hotels that were to be closed in a Money saving measure. 3 Usa eur commander Gen. Crosbie e. Saint announced on Friday the establishment of a soldiers recreation Center in the town which is located 12 Miles Southwest of Salzburg Austria. A your Usa eur personnel and families May miss the big City events and ticker tape parades but we have created something special to show our recogni1 Tion and appreciation for their extraordinary accomplishments sacrifice and hard work a Saint said in a statement. The Celebration As it is being called will begin May 6, with personnel receiving three Days and two nights lodging in the bavarian resort town. They will also be offered inexpensive meals and a combination of Low Cost recreational activities and programs. The Pentagon had planned to close the arc facilities in Berchtesgaden Over the next year. The Hof Complex which includes the Berchtesgaden or Hof and general Mcnair hotels was to have been shut Down april 1. The Skytop and Walker hotels were to close by april 1 next year. Saint said Secretary of the army Michael Stone was concerned with what could be done to Reward usar eur personnel for their hard work. So Stone agreed that the army a Europe command would assume temporary control of the Berchtesgaden facilities. Usa eur will continue to operate the recreation Center until All those eligible have had a Chance to participate. After that the hotels will close As planned with properties being released to German government officials. The hotels which can accommodate about 600 people at a time will be Able to Host about 2,000 personnel per week. In the program soldiers will usually travel with their unit with commanders responsible for making arrangements. Civilian employees who supported the operations will go with the unit to which they were attached