SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 2 ⎯ Description of the Proposed Action and Alternativesmortars, reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition elements, anti-tank carriers, engineermobility support vehicles, nuclear/biological/chemical reconnaissance, as well as many of the commandand control carriers within the brigade. The SBCT extends the tactical mobility of Commandersin the operational theaters of war and increases the firepower available to support dismounted infantryassaults.Figure 2–1Stryker Infantry Carrier VehicleThe Stryker vehicle is a combat vehicle that would traverse terrain and obstacles to ensure protecteddelivery of infantry squads to their dismount points. Because of the high-speed capability of theSBCT, most mounted movement takes place on roads or unrestricted terrain so that the SBCT unitscan fully leverage the speed of the vehicle. The Stryker can maneuver across a slope that is less than30 percent in pitch and up a slope that is less than 60 percent grade.The SBCT uses many of the weapon systems of traditional Army brigades. In addition to these systems,the SBCT incorporates upgraded technologies and more advanced systems, including the MobileGun System (MGS), the M777 lightweight howitzer, and reconnaissance and target acquisitionsystems.2.4 APPLICATION OF SCREENING CRITERIA: THE ARMY’SALTERNATIVE SELECTION PROCESS AND IDENTIFICATION OFTHE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVEHQDA developed a screening process for selecting installation alternatives that can adequately meetthe needs of the 2/25 th SBCT. All alternatives that can reasonably meet the Army’s needs for transformingand permanently stationing the SBCT have been carried forward for analysis in this document.Screening criteria, which exclude installations from further consideration, are based upon thefive primary areas of need for the Army to take action. These areas of need, which were described inChapter 1, include adhering to national security and defense policies, furthering Army Transformationas directed by these policies, meeting training and operational requirements for the SBCT, providingfor Soldier and Family quality of life requirements, and meeting strategic deployment requirementsto ensure adequate defense assets can be deployed in a timely manner around the world.The foregoing discussion further elaborated on the essential elements necessary to implement theProposed Action based on the stated Purpose and Need in Chapter 1. Without those elements, the2/25 th cannot be home stationed at a site that will sustain the unit and support the needs of Soldiersand their Families while upholding the security requirements of the nation. This section discusses factorslimiting available home-station sites and then applies the screening criteria to arrive at a fullrange of reasonable alternatives.February 2008 2–10 2/25th SBCT Final EIS