'BRAC becoming a reality' as missile command moves

SMDC headquarters is now officially part of Redstone

A major Base Realignment and Closure Commission move took place Tuesday when the U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command headquarters flag was officially transferred to Redstone Arsenal.

The Space & Missile Defense Command headquarters was mandated to move by the 2005 BRAC Commission decision. The move brings 180 SMDC positions to Huntsville; nearly three dozen employees are moving, leaving the remaining positions to be filled.

"BRAC is becoming a reality today," said Army Lt. Gen. Kevin T. Campbell, SMDC commanding general, during a ceremony at the Sparkman Center. "If there is a gold-medal Olympic winner of BRAC, it is this community. It is Huntsville."

Campbell said most communities don't look on the BRAC process favorably because it often moves work from nearby military bases.

"To many, BRAC is a four-letter word, but not here," he said.

In a ceremony, the SMDC flag was unfurled as symbol of the headquarters' move from Arlington, Va.

"What's really important today is that we are going to plant our colors here on Redstone Arsenal," Campbell said.

Also part of the ceremony was the transfer of responsibility for SMDC's enlisted and noncommissioned officers to Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph C. Borja. He is the adviser on enlisted soldiers' matters in addition to other responsibilities.

"One of the most difficult challenges in our Army is transition and moving to another community," Borja said. "But seeing how this community reacts to our service members, I look forward to being here."

In addition to SMDC headquarters, the majority of the Missile Defense Agency, which serves all branches of the armed forces, the Army Materiel Command headquarters and the Army Security & Assistance Command headquarters are being moved to Redstone.

Along with those major agencies, helicopter work is being relocated from Fort Rucker and from Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. The Army 2nd Recruiting Brigade is also coming from Fort Gillem in Atlanta.

The moves, scheduled by law to be completed by 2011, are expected to bring at least 4,500 federal jobs to Redstone.