You may have heard recently that Ft. Campbell is facing a potential cut of drastic proportions - a personnel draw down on the order of 16,000 soldiers.
These proposed cuts come from the Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) which is part of the Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment.
Imagine 16,000 fewer soldiers in the area. Now, imagine the families affected by those cuts. Now, imagine the ripple economic effects across the entire Pennyrile and Barren River regions (not to mention Clarksville and surrounding Tennessee counties). Let that sink in for a minute.
There is no question that those areas depend largely on Fort Campbell as an economic driver and employer with an annual $4.7 billion impact. As the Christian County Chamber notes, "while the SPEA did take into account the effect on Trigg and Christian Counties it did not take into account other counties that will be affected in this drawdown. This ripple effect will reach other Kentucky counties such as Caldwell, Hopkins and Todd just to name a few."
These cuts aren't guaranteed. You have a voice. You have the power to influence the Department of the Army. Now is the time.
The Christian County Chamber of Commerce has posted an online submission form to send a letter to the Army expressing deep concern about the impact of the proposed cuts. Go. There. Now!
NOTE: LETTERS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY AUGUST 25TH!
Don't want to use the Chamber's form letter? Write your own and mail it here:
U.S. Army Environmental Command
ATTN: SPEA Public Comments
2450 Connell Road (Bldg 2264)
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-7664
Or Email it here:
Or call here: 210-466-1590
Or call toll free here: 855-846-3940