The Military’s Impact On Hawaii
A state-by-state comparison with tips on how to keep the military from leaving.
The has a new report out on state policy options to sustain military installations.
Why?
“Recent events such as the drawdown of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, federal budget cuts and potential rounds of Base Realignment and Closure have contributed to uncertainty over the future role and sustainability of military installations,” the NCSL says .
And this: “State legislatures are critical in managing relations between the military and surrounding communities, especially in regard to issues related to military base or mission change, growing local development and incompatible land uses that may threaten the military鈥檚 ability to operate effectively.”
To that end, the NCSL report听highlights the impact of the military on state economies and provides policy options to support military-community cooperation and address land use challenges that may arise.
For Hawaii, defense spending in fiscal year 2014 was $7.8 billion, amounting to nearly 10 percent of the state’s GDP.
Defense personnel听in the islands numbered听73,487 active, civilian, Guard and Reserve members.
All told, the military provided 102,000 jobs in the islands and $14.7 billion in direct and indirect impact.
About听1.3 million people serve in the U.S. armed forces, 22 million more are veterans and听420 military installations exist in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, says NCSL.
“U.S. military operations touch every state in some way, and state legislatures are playing an increasingly substantial role in military issues,” it notes.
