The 600 jobs Red River Army Depot is set to lose won't come all at once, local officials say, and are the result of a decline in military needs.
The depot, like other support installations of its type, is considered a "working capital fund installation."
"The depot must cover all costs with revenue," said Dennis Lewis of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission. "Meaning (that) though RRAD is a government installation, they have to be business-minded in decisions. This reduction in personnel is due to reduction in work assigned. The workforce has to be balanced with the work available."
Operational needs for armed service members overseas have changed and the amount of equipment damaged or destroyed in combat also have changed. The downward trend is about a decade old.
"Peak operational tempo for the present campaigns was achieved around 2008," Lewis said. "Since then, we've been in a gradual state of reduction of operations. Equipment has been repaired, refitted and returned to their respective units, which is what RRAD does. We are, at present, down to a glide path to pre-911 operational levels-unless Congress appropriates funds to increase readiness at this point."
While the Budget Omnibus Bill signed into law provides an increase in defense spending, that boost isn't always spread equally.
"At this point, it is up to congressional appropriation," said Jerry Sparks, economic developer for the city of Texarkana, Texas. "The president signing a budget bill does not mean an immediate inflow of money. It will take some time to see how these funds will affect operations out at Red River."
The announcement of layoffs at RRAD last month was followed by many rumors, one of which was that Anniston Army Depot in Alabama and other posts with similar missions were not facing similar stresses.
"It is a false idea that Anniston is chugging along at full capacity at this time," Lewis said.
"Anniston is affected by the same things Red River is. They get their work when the military wears down or breaks their equipment. With operational tempo slowing, they are affected, too," Sparks said.
Many also believe more reductions are forthcoming, but that is not set in stone.
"Right now, nothing official has come down regarding additional personnel reductions," Lewis said. "The depot did say in a press release that the potential for more personnel reductions could happen, if reduction in work tempo continued."
But all is not gloom and doom, according to Lewis and Sparks.
"While RRAD is reducing personnel, the Defense Distribution Depot is hiring," Lewis said. "There is opportunity there to absorb at least some of the reductions at that facility. Also, RRAD's mission is stable; it is not in jeopardy."
No base closings are being considered at this time, Sparks said.