New Troops Coming to Ft Bliss Soon

37,000 troops to be stationed at Fort Bliss by 2013
By Chris Roberts / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 12/20/2007 12:00:00 AM MST

Nearly 11,000 soldiers will be sent to new brigade combat teams created at Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range by 2013 as part of the Army's plan to grow by more than 65,000 soldiers, lawmakers said Wednesday.

Fort Bliss will receive one infantry brigade combat team in fiscal year 2009 and another in fiscal 2011, bringing in around 7,000 soldiers. White Sands will receive a heavy brigade combat team, with about 3,800 soldiers, in fiscal 2013. A federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1 of the previous calendar year.

The Army's plan will bring the total active-duty force to 547,000 soldiers and will also increase National Guard forces by about 8,200 soldiers and reserve forces by about 1,000. The new plan -- expected to cost $2.63 billion -- speeds up the expansion by two years.

"The Army's decision to add new troops and missions to the El Paso region reflects their confidence in our community's ability to provide the resources needed to support troops and their families," said U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas. "Fort Bliss was already the biggest winner in the 2005 (Base Realignment and Closure) decision in terms of military personnel, and this growth on top of previous troop gains, is unprecedented and demonstrates both the military value of the post and the value of the strong community support for the military mission."
Fort Bliss is already in the middle of a $3.1 billion expansion to support the relocation of the 1st Armored Division from Germany and the arrival of other units that will bring in 21,000 soldiers between 2005 and 2011. The post's population is expected to peak at about 37,000 soldiers by 2013, according to Fort Bliss officials.

The additional soldiers are expected to create about 3,900 spinoff jobs in El Paso and nearly $1 billion in new economic impact, said Bob Cook, president of the El Paso Regional Economic Development Corp. That economic activity, he said, includes soldiers spending their paychecks, creation of new jobs, property and sales taxes, and new home building.

"The added troops are more great news for Fort Bliss, which will have a permanent base É with room to grow," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. "The community's overwhelming support of the effort to assure adequate future water supply has been an integral part of this great success."

Hutchison was referring to the desalination plant -- a joint project between the city of El Paso and Fort Bliss -- which is now creating drinking water from brackish water held in a vast aquifer under the city.

Reyes, who early on had to convince the Army that there would be enough drinking water to support the unprecedented growth at the post, also stressed that community cooperation made the Army's decision possible.

White Sands will soon begin its own construction project, said spokesman Larry Furrow. It will include motor pools, barracks, a commissary, medical centers and administrative buildings. Roads also will be built.

"In addition to testing new equipment designed for a lighter, more lethal force, (White Sands) will now be the home of a brigade combat team designed to fight as part of a modular force to deploy anywhere in the world," Furrow said.

However, an environmental impact statement will have to be completed before construction can begin, Furrow said.

A supplemental environmental impact statement related to the two new brigades has been completed at Fort Bliss and revealed no concerns, Maj. Gen. Robert Lennox, post commander, said earlier this year when the study was completed.

Furrow said no dollar figures have been attached to the White Sands construction. However, when the El Paso Times first reported the Army's plans in June, an Army contractor hired to analyze the proposal said it would cost between $250 million and $300 million at Fort Bliss for buildings and infrastructure to support the two brigades there. An area east of Loop 375 was one location being considered for the new building complex.

Although the new plan calls for two armored brigades to remain in Germany for two extra years -- adjustments made for "near-term theater security needs," according to Army officials -- the construction schedule at Fort Bliss is not expected to change much.

Although the arrival at Fort Bliss of one of the brigades remaining in Germany will be delayed from 2011 to 2012, the second "grow the force brigade" is scheduled to arrive in 2011.

The second brigade remaining in Germany will relocate to White Sands in 2013.

The plan has been supported by many in Congress because it will take some of the pressure off the Army, which has been on a grueling deployment schedule mainly in support of the nation's military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

"Expanding the size and strength of our Army is critical to America's safety and winning the war on terror," said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "I welcome these troops and will work to provide the support they need."

Chris Roberts may be reached at chrisr@elpasotimes.com; 546-6136.

Arrival schedule for new units

The Army's Grow the Force Initiative will bring nearly 11,000 more soldiers to Fort Bliss and White Sands by 2013, Army officials announced Wednesday. As a result of Base Realignment and Closure decisions, Fort Bliss already was slated to grow by about 21,000 soldiers between 2005 and 2011. Under the Army's new plans, the post's population will peak at about 37,000 soldiers by 2013.
This is the tentative schedule for arrival of those units. The years are federal fiscal years, which begin Oct. 1 of the calendar previous year.

2008: About 4,000 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, soldiers return from Iraq. A heavy brigade combat team, with about 3,800 soldiers, is relocated from Germany to Fort Bliss.

2009: A new infantry brigade combat team, with about 3,500 soldiers, is created at Fort Bliss as part of the Grow the Army Initiative.

2010: A heavy brigade combat team, with about 3,800 soldiers is relocated from Germany to Fort Bliss.

2011: A new infantry brigade combat team, with about 3,500 soldiers, is created at Fort Bliss under the Grow the Army Initiative.

2012: A heavy brigade combat team, with about 3,800 soldiers is relocated from Germany to Fort Bliss.

2013: A heavy brigade combat team, with about 3,800 soldiers, is relocated from Germany to White Sands Missile Range.