Members of DMZ Hawaii/Aloha Aina gathered yesterday in front of the federal building, where they were to deliver a community impact statement regarding the Strykers to the offices of Hawaii's four members of Congress.
Last step for isle
Stryker unit is nearAn impact document awaits
the signature of an Army general
The 25th Infantry Division could clear its final hurdle today in bringing 300 Stryker combat vehicles to Hawaii and beefing up its 2nd Brigade by another 810 soldiers.
Lt. Gen. James Campbell, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, was expected to sign as early as today the record of decision on the final environmental impact statement on the transformation of the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. This would complete a three-year-long study, making the 25th Infantry the fifth of six Stryker units in the $4 billion Army transformation program.
More than $693 million in military construction projects, ranging from roads to new buildings and facilities at Schofield Barracks, are planned. Of the $693 million, $439 million for the 28 projects have been committed.
The additional soldiers for the 2nd Brigade would begin arriving at Schofield shortly after the brigade returns from Iraq next spring, bringing the unit's manning to 4,000.
The 300, 20-ton, eight-wheeled Stryker vehicles should be at Schofield by 2006.
The Army has said it will purchase 23,000 acres on the west side of the Big Island from Parker Ranch to support the Stryker unit on the Big Island. It also plans to build roads on the Big Island and along the Leeward area of Oahu to keep its military convoys off island roads.
The Army's 27,000-acre Schofield Barracks in Wahiawa is expected to grow by another 1,402 acres with new facilities and three live-fire ranges.
The first Stryker unit -- the 3rd Brigade from Fort Lewis' 2nd Infantry Division -- was deployed to Iraq last fall. It will be replaced in October by another Fort Lewis Stryker unit: the 1st Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division.
Leeward Oahu activists, who want the Army to close the Makua Valley training range, say the Stryker EIS does not address the environmental and cultural significance of Makua Valley.
25th Infantry Division
www.25idl.army.mil
