JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON –
The Army will hold a listening session at 1:30 p.m. March 31 at the Bexar County Main Exposition Hall to discuss possible troop reductions at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.
"The purpose of the March 31 listening session is to allow Army officials the ability to make an informed holistic decision on where cuts will be made, if a further drawn down of the force is required," said Mark Greszler, U.S. Army North deputy chief of staff for installation management.
The Army Listening Session is at the Bexar County Main Exposition Hall, 3201 E. Houston St., next to the Freeman Coliseum and AT&T Center.
This session will address the potential reductions of the Army to between 420,000 and 450,000 military personnel. With a possible further reduction in military personnel, there will also be a reduction in the civilian personnel.
If these reductions go into place, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston could lose nearly 6,000 Soldiers and Army civilians.
The State of Texas Comptroller estimates that the military impact on the state is $150 billion and accounts for 6 percent of the state's economic activities.
Joint Base San Antonio, the largest joint base operating in the Department of Defense, accounts for nearly a third of the impact.
"The community town hall gathering will allow Army leadership to outline what the Army has done so far regarding force restructuring and why budget restraints have led to various stationing decisions," said Will Garrett, vice president for economic development, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. "This session will also allow the San Antonio community the opportunity to have their voices heard about the Army presence in San Antonio."
San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor and Lt. Gen. Perry Wiggins, commanding general U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) and senior Army commander of JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis, as well as leaders from the Department of the Army and other local and state business leaders and elected officials, are expected to attend to address any questions the public may have.