Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Raleigh News & Observer
October 13, 2007
Pg. B6
National buildup will add 11,500 to bases in Eastern N.C.
By Jerry Allegood, Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- With the kind of hoopla usually showered on industrial developments, state and local officials Friday announced a Marine Corps expansion that will bring 25,000 more Marines, sailors, civilians and military family members to Eastern North Carolina.
The buildup is part of national plans to increase the Marine Corps from 184,000 to 202,000 over the next five years. About 11,500 more Marines and sailors will be stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point at Havelock, and New River Air Station at Jackson.
In addition, the active-duty troops will bring 9,500 to 13,500 family members and civilian workers. Maj. Gen. Robert Dickerson, commander of East Marines, said at a briefing in Jacksonville that salaries alone will total $432 million.
"That's a lot of money coming to Eastern North Carolina," he said.
Economic development officials say the military will attract as many as 15,000 more people in addition to the normal predicted population increase of about 21,300 in five years. That total -- about 61,000 people -- would be more than the population of many cities in the region.
"That's the equivalent of two Kinstons and a Winterville being brought to Eastern North Carolina," said Al Delia, president of North Carolina's Eastern Region, a regional planning organization.
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue compared the military growth to an industrial development. She said state leaders should treat the military growth the way they would an investment by Dell, Google or FedEx when considering funding to support the development.
"This is a sure thing," she said.
But Dickerson and others acknowledged the downside would be the strain on schools, roads, water and sewer services. Another 4,300 families will aggravate the current deficit of 3,732 homes on the installations.
"There's going to be an economic boom associated with the growth of the force the Marine Corps is going through right now," Dickerson said. "Unfortunately, there's going to be associated costs up front."
He said the long-term economic growth should offset costs. And the Marine Corps will seek funds to make the transition easier.
Representatives of seven area counties formed a Military Growth Task Force to help prepare for the influx. Delia said the group will seek funds to ensure that schools, roads and public services can absorb the coming military personnel and civilians.
Currently there are about 160,000 Marines, sailors, dependents and retirees in Eastern North Carolina.
Camp Lejeune, the major East Coast training base, would see the largest increase in military personnel, about 8,052. That includes 7,093 active-duty and 959 civilian jobs. There would be about 7,009 dependents. Cherry Point would add 1,242 active- duty, 243 civilian jobs and 1,241 dependents. New River Air Station would add 1,267 active-duty, 144 civilians and 1,252 dependents.
Dickerson said the personnel increase will improve the quality of life for Marines and sailors by reducing the frequency of deployments. Currently, units are typically deployed for seven months and then are home for seven months.
"What this will allow Marines to do is to potentially stay back another 12 to 14 months, give them more time off and give them a chance to train in other areas," he said.
October 13, 2007
Pg. B6
National buildup will add 11,500 to bases in Eastern N.C.
By Jerry Allegood, Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- With the kind of hoopla usually showered on industrial developments, state and local officials Friday announced a Marine Corps expansion that will bring 25,000 more Marines, sailors, civilians and military family members to Eastern North Carolina.
The buildup is part of national plans to increase the Marine Corps from 184,000 to 202,000 over the next five years. About 11,500 more Marines and sailors will be stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point at Havelock, and New River Air Station at Jackson.
In addition, the active-duty troops will bring 9,500 to 13,500 family members and civilian workers. Maj. Gen. Robert Dickerson, commander of East Marines, said at a briefing in Jacksonville that salaries alone will total $432 million.
"That's a lot of money coming to Eastern North Carolina," he said.
Economic development officials say the military will attract as many as 15,000 more people in addition to the normal predicted population increase of about 21,300 in five years. That total -- about 61,000 people -- would be more than the population of many cities in the region.
"That's the equivalent of two Kinstons and a Winterville being brought to Eastern North Carolina," said Al Delia, president of North Carolina's Eastern Region, a regional planning organization.
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue compared the military growth to an industrial development. She said state leaders should treat the military growth the way they would an investment by Dell, Google or FedEx when considering funding to support the development.
"This is a sure thing," she said.
But Dickerson and others acknowledged the downside would be the strain on schools, roads, water and sewer services. Another 4,300 families will aggravate the current deficit of 3,732 homes on the installations.
"There's going to be an economic boom associated with the growth of the force the Marine Corps is going through right now," Dickerson said. "Unfortunately, there's going to be associated costs up front."
He said the long-term economic growth should offset costs. And the Marine Corps will seek funds to make the transition easier.
Representatives of seven area counties formed a Military Growth Task Force to help prepare for the influx. Delia said the group will seek funds to ensure that schools, roads and public services can absorb the coming military personnel and civilians.
Currently there are about 160,000 Marines, sailors, dependents and retirees in Eastern North Carolina.
Camp Lejeune, the major East Coast training base, would see the largest increase in military personnel, about 8,052. That includes 7,093 active-duty and 959 civilian jobs. There would be about 7,009 dependents. Cherry Point would add 1,242 active- duty, 243 civilian jobs and 1,241 dependents. New River Air Station would add 1,267 active-duty, 144 civilians and 1,252 dependents.
Dickerson said the personnel increase will improve the quality of life for Marines and sailors by reducing the frequency of deployments. Currently, units are typically deployed for seven months and then are home for seven months.
"What this will allow Marines to do is to potentially stay back another 12 to 14 months, give them more time off and give them a chance to train in other areas," he said.