Senator Jerry Moran told a listening tour audience in Junction City Saturday that he believes the Army sees value in Fort Riley and the mission of the post.
The Army made the decision to eliminate 615 troop positions at Fort Riley as part of a nationwide downsizing of 40,000 soldiers from 490,000 down to 450,000. But that’s quite a different from an initial environmental analysis on what the impact would be if Fort Riley lost 16,000 soldiers, and Moran noted, fears at the time of a later community listening session that one or more Brigade Combat Teams could be lost. There are about 4,000 soldiers in a BCT.
The general reaction since the announcement earlier this week that the Army would only eliminate 615 positions has been relief, and that the decision is good news. Moran told a packed meeting room at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library. “So while I wish there wasn’t the number 615, I wish it was zero, I see this as significant evidence that the Army, the Pentagon, finds great value in Fort Riley and its mission to protect our country.”
Moran says his office is studying the analysis done by the Department of the Army, and will try to figure out any ways Fort Riley is more deficient than other places. The Senator added should there be another round of reductions down to 420,000 the Army will have to make additional decisions. “This is nothing that I think is anytime in the next few weeks, next few months kind of thing. But over a period of time we need to make sure any of the things that we can improve on, that we’re fully engaged in making certain that happens.”
Moran said the public’s support for Fort Riley clearly got the Army’s attention. More than 4,200 people from the region attended a community listening session in Junction City in February and expressed support for the post. The Senator commended the area for what occurs every day on behalf of the Soldiers and their families.
Moran pointed out that the nearby Great Plains Training Center west of Salina, the quick deployment capabilities from Fort Riley, and the $1.8 billion dollar investment in schools, housing, and a new hospital at the post were all factors working as well for Fort Riley.