Kentucky base may lose 2,400 soldiers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Army plans to deactivate a 2,400-soldier unit at Kentucky's Fort Campbell by the end of next fiscal year, military officials have announced — part of a military restructuring as America's wars wind down.

That loss will reduce Fort Campbell's active soldier population to 26,500, military officials said. That's down from a reported high of 31,092 in 2013.

Fort Campbell leaders said in a statement that deactivating the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade — which recently returned from Afghanistan — would also mean the departure of 3,800 dependents.

"The loss of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell will have a wide-ranging effect both on and off the installation on many levels," the statement said.

"Economic losses will be felt in surrounding communities where soldiers, families and civilian support personnel reside. The most recognizable revenue losses could be felt in the real estate, auto sales and retail/grocery industries, in addition to the loss of students attending off-post primary schools," the statement said.

The move — the second Fort Campbell brigade to be deactivated this year — brought howls of protest from Kentucky politicians worried about the impact of the Army's downsizing efforts.

"Once again, the Department of Defense has turned to Kentucky to bear an unreasonably heavy burden in military reductions," said Gov. Steve Beshear, calling the move "deeply disappointing." He said that, "per capita, Kentucky has absorbed far more cuts to its bases than other states, and these losses have real impact on our communities."

Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul and Rep. Ed Whitfield said in a joint statement that the move is "bad news for our nation's security and for the local Fort Campbell community."

However, Yasamin Ausenbaugh, vice president of the nearby Christian County Chamber of Commerce, said it's not yet clear how many of the soldiers would be transferred to other units on Fort Campbell or sent to other posts. She said she has heard it will be "a little bit of both."

"It wasn't unexpected. We're still trying to figure out what it means," she said, noting the chamber will be encouraging any soldiers exiting the Army to stay in the area.

"It's a significant loss," said Hopkinsville, Ky., Mayor Dan Kemp, who noted that, while earlier brigade deactivations mostly led to shifts to other units at Fort Campbell, "apparently that won't happen this time."

The move is part of a broader downsizing as the Army tries to reach a strength of 490,000, The Associated Press reported. With pressures from budget cuts and sequestration, the Army has announced 13 brigade combat team deactivations and a massive restructuring of its remaining brigade combat teams. More cuts could follow if the Army has to shrink further because of budget cuts.