What does BRAC mean in MILITARY

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is an administrative process used by the United States government to oversee the reorganization of U.S. military bases. Under this process, a commission determines which military installations should be closed, realigned, or restructured based on a number of variables. The purpose is to ensure that the nation's military infrastructure is properly aligned and efficient in meeting strategic objectives in the 21st century.

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission, or BRAC Commission, is responsible for administering the BRAC process. This commission consists of nine presidential appointees selected by the President and members of Congress for two-year terms.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) establishes new bases when it needs additional space for training or operations, but over time there may be extra capacity in some areas due to changing strategic requirements or evolving technologies. To save money, DoD initiates a BRAC review every few years to identify any excess capacity and recommend changes as needed.

The DoD's congressionally mandated BRAC rounds have occurred approximately every five years since 1988 - most recently in 2005 - though since then Congress has not authorized additional reviews.

A variety of factors are taken into consideration during a BRAC round such as effectiveness, efficiency, level of modernization needed and cost savings generated by closing or restructuring an installation. Additionally social considerations like environmental impact and economic development potential can also play a role in certain cases.

Once the commission has identified a base as eligible for closure or realignment they submit their recommendation to Congress who must approve it before any action can be taken.

Since it was first implemented in 1988 through 2020, roughly $12 billion annually has been saved through implementation of earlier rounds of BRAC., with up to $10 billion per year expected over each successive 20-year period afterward.

While no one wants to see their local bases close down because it can lead to reduced employment opportunities in affected communities, closures result in more efficient use of taxpayer dollars while also providing new economic development prospects due to re-purposing vacant land.