SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 2 ⎯ Description of the Proposed Action and Alternativestoon and limited company maneuvers. The remaining 50 percent of these MIMs would be executedby the 2/25 th while performing maneuver-training tasks at DTA.Several considerations need to be incorporated into the execution of maneuver training at FortRichardson and DTA. The shortage of maneuver land available at Fort Richardson would require thetransport of SBCT equipment to DTA to engage in realistic large-scale maneuver training events. Inaddition to this shortfall, the long spring snowmelt and fall freeze-thaw cycles cause the soils to besaturated for up to 5 months per year. During these times, mud and slick terrain limit the full mobilityof the Stryker. To remediate maneuver damage and rehabilitate training lands, Fort Richardson andDTA would conduct increased sustainment activities under the installation Integrated Training AreaManagement (ITAM) and environmental stewardship programs. In addition to these considerations,the SBCT fleet would need to be outfitted with snow chains and other winterization gear for thelonger more intense winter season.Realignment of the 4/25th to Hawaii: Successfully meeting the needs of the SBCT in Alaska entailsthe re-stationing of the 4/25 th IBCT (Airborne) in Hawaii to vacate the garrison facilities and housingnecessary to support the 2/25 th . Construction of projects listed in Table 2–13 that are not Stryker specificwould be required in Hawaii to support the stationing of the modular 4/25 th IBCT (Airborne).These projects would be constructed as they were planned in the 2004 EIS. As detailed previously inTable 2–14, the 4/25 th IBCT (Airborne) currently is authorized 567 fewer Soldiers than the 2/25 thSBCT. In addition, the 4/25 th IBCT (Airborne) consists of approximately 500 more Soldiers than theprevious 2/25 th ID (L) that was stationed in Hawaii prior to transformation. The 4/25 th IBCT operatesand trains using only light and medium vehicles as primary modes of transport. The stationing of the4/25 th IBCT (Airborne) in Hawaii would involve the same intensities and kinds of activities thatwould have taken place to support the 2/25 th ID (L). Most vehicles, weapons systems, and equipmentwould be the same when comparing the 4/25 th to the 2/25 th prior to its transformation.A few key differences exist, however. One of these differences is that the 4/25 th possesses more unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) units and its authorized equipment includes 19 UAVs. Moreover, the4/25 th is an airborne IBCT unit. This airborne capability would be retained within U.S. Army Pacific(USARPAC) as part of the 4/25 th re-stationing to SBMR. Senior Army leadership of PACOM andHQDA have determined that this airborne capability is required for the Pacific theater of operationsand would be retained to support regional security and national defense requirements. The requirementsto conduct UAV training and airborne training will result in an increased use of airspace inHawaii. Additional facilities would be needed to support the airborne training of the 4/25 th .Cantonment Infrastructure: Given the reduced manning, vehicles, and equipment of the 4/25 thcompared to the 2/25 th SBCT, there would be limited cantonment facilities required to meet the needsof the 4/25 th ’s re-stationing to Hawaii. Critical facilities for the 4/25 th , including office space, housing,and parking and maintenance space would be on hand. Overall, the unit would be adequately supportedby those existing cantonment projects that have been completed or have been planned forcompletion in the near future and those facilities that would be vacated by the 2/25 th SBCT.A new Parachute rigging and storage facilities would be sited at an existing 30,000 square foot storagewarehouse that was originally constructed as part of the multiple deployment facility for theSBCT. This project would be sited at WAAF at the location shown in Figure 2–9.February 2008 2–35 2/25th SBCT Final EIS