© 2003, Rotary Club of Charleston

P.O. Box 21029
Charleston, SC 29413-1029

Club secretary:
Carroll Schweers
chasrot@comcast.net

Charleston can make strong case to keep military
Retired general says area offers several advantages

MAY 20, 2003 - Retired Air Force Gen. Tom Mikolajcik said the Charleston area is well-positioned to keep its strong military presence in the next round of base closures.

"We are very hopeful that we will be able to retain what we have, but also to be able to enhance what we have due to other base closures," said Mikolajcik, who is heading the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce's Defense Issues Task Force.

One of the biggest reasons why Charleston, which lost the 19,000-employee Charleston Naval Base and shipyard in the last round of base closures, is strong this time is because of its multi-mission military facilities.

Charleston Air Force Base, for example, is home to 53 C-17 Globemasters and provides the premier airlift capability in the military. But unlike other airlift bases, the Charleston base also has crucial training components that others are missing.

Mikolajcik said the military accounts for $2 billion a year in the local economy, including 18,000 military and contract employees and an annual payroll of $672 million. He added the military's other intangible expense is what it contributes to community life.

"You can't put a pricetag on what they do to enhance our community," the general said.

Mikolajcik, a former wing commander at Charleston Air Force Base, said the kinds of functions in Charleston - airlift at the Air Force Base, sealift through the Port of Charleston and prepositioning, such as the Army's prepositioned shipping program - are added strengths, compared to places that house single-mission fighter bases.

"Airlift, sealift and prepositioning are growth industries in the military," he said.

Throughout his talk, Mikolajcik highlighted strengths of other area military facilities, including the Charleston Naval Weapons Station, Space and Naval Warfare System Center (SPAWAR), the Nuclear Power Training Command, the Nuclear Power Training School, the Army's pre-positioning program, and the Army's 841st Transportation Battalion.

-- Andy Brack

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