Collocating the Army and Marine Corps Afloat Prepositioning Maintenance Sites at Charleston, South Carolina, and Blount Island, Florida

摘要

This study estimated the costs and assessed the strategic considerations of collocating the two defense sites used for maintaining afloat prepositioned equipment-the Army site at Charleston, South Carolina, and the Marine Corps site at Blount Island, Florida. The cost analysis included estimates of the one-time costs of moving people and equipment and the yearly operating savings from more efficient use of personnel, facilities, and base operating support. The costs of purchasing or closing the Blount Island site (for collocation at Charleston) were also considered. The savings amounted to less than $100 million in discounted costs over 20 years, or, on an annual basis, approximately 4 percent of the combined annual budgets of the two commands. The strategic considerations dealt with the effect of collocation on management responsiveness, vulnerability to weather and terrorism, operational flexibility, and possibilities for future expansion of prepositioning forces. Given the uncertainties of the cost analysis and the predominantly negative effects of the strategic considerations, the study found no compelling reason for collocation.