More than 400 people filled the third floor of the Dena'ina Center in downtown Anchorage on Monday night to show their opposition to possible U.S. Army cuts in Alaska.
The "Rally for Our Troops" was organized by Anchorage-based business, civic and municipal organizations and was aimed at encouraging a four-person Army committee to spare cuts to Anchorage's Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson ?and Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks. The Army must reduce the nation's active-duty soldier ranks by more than 40,000 by 2017.
In a worst-case scenario, the main units of both posts could be cut, forcing the departure of as many as 10,800 troops and 19,000 dependents within a year and a half. That would amount to a loss of about 4 percent of Alaska's population.
Alaska has more veterans per capita than any other state, and the community support echoed off the walls as the evening began with a performance by the Clark Middle School Drum Corps and Flag Team. A listening session, one of 30 being conducted nationwide by the Army in areas that could see cuts, followed, drawing a parade of residents who talked about the strategic importance of JBER's main unit, the 4th Brigade/25th Infantry Combat Team (Airborne).
"He who owns Alaska owns the entire world," said U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, reminding the Army committee of Alaska's strategic location and paraphrasing the famous words of World War II air power advocate Billy Mitchell.
Strategically, Alaska bases would seem a lock to avoid cuts -- being so far north and west that they can respond to almost anywhere within about 24 hours. Alaska also has some of the largest training areas in the U.S. with a variety of terrain and weather conditions.
"Alaska remains an integral part of our ability to respond to the Pacific," U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said via live video teleconference from Capitol Hill. "And, the U.S. Army Alaska has gotten very good at operating in high altitudes and cold places."
But the Army is considering other factors in its quest to draw down troop positions, including community support. Most of the people gathered Monday night said support for the military was a strong point in Anchorage's presentation to the Army.
In addition to Sullivan and Murkowski, Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott and U.S. Rep. Don Young (taped) appealed to the Army committee. But so did several dozen others. Most thought Alaska needs the Army just as much as the Army needs Alaska.
"It (major cuts at JBER and Wainwright) is something that really could happen," said retired school principal Michele Stickney. "And I would rather be prepared to prevent it than to ignore it."
"This isn't a good time to sit at home and wonder," Stickney's husband, Roger, added.
When asked if they thought the community rally would make a difference in the Army's decision, many said they were unsure but wanted to do their part.
"I hope it will make a difference," retired state worker Irene Walls said. "It should have a lot of impact."
If JBER or Fort Wainwright lose combat brigades, the total personnel loss (including spouses, families and support jobs) could cost the state $1 billion in economic impact, according to Bill Popp, Anchorage Economic Development Corp. president and one of the rally coordinators.
Should only JBER see the loss of a combat brigade, it could cost the municipality the equivalent of half the population of Eagle River, according to Mallott.
The Secretary of the Army is expected to make a decision on what units will be cut by late spring or summer, according to Army officials. A second Alaska listening session in Fairbanks is set for Tuesday.