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Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
September 30, 2006
Move To Little Creek Considered For SEAL Center
By Louis Hansen
VIRGINIA BEACH - The Navy SEALs command headquarters could be moving to Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base from its longtime location near San Diego, according to Navy and elected officials.
The command could make Hampton Roads the hub of naval special warfare as the Department of Defense seeks to bolster SEAL forces by 25 percent during the next four years.
The 270-person Naval Special Warfare center oversees the operations and training for 2,200 SEAL commandos, plus support teams and fast-boat drivers. About half of the SEALs are based in Virginia Beach at Little Creek and Dam Neck, an annex of Oceana Naval Air Station.
Cmdr. Greg Geisen, spokesman for Naval Special Warfare, said Friday that the command has outgrown its facilities at Coronado Naval Amphibious Base while it has increased operations with East Coast-based special operations units from the Army and Air Force.
"We have never worked more closely with our joint special operations forces than we do today in the global war on terror," he said.
The command's leadership is studying a shift to an East Coast base, Geisen said, adding that it would not uproot SEAL combat teams based on the West Coast. No final decision has been made, and a move probably would not occur for at least three years, he said.
"The command is exploring a variety of options to provide an expanded facility," Geisen said.
Relocating would give the special warfare headquarters modern, spacious facilities and bring SEAL leaders closer to their superiors at the Pentagon and in Tampa, Fla., where the U.S. Special Operations Command is based.
The Naval Special Warfare command has about 150 Navy personnel, led by Rear Adm. Joseph Maguire, and includes about 100 civilian government employees and 20 private contractors. It oversees a force of about 5,400 active-duty personnel and 1,200 reserves.
The headquarters has added about 50 people since 2004 and is expected to grow by another 100 within a few years. The command has been forced to set up temporary offices in a warehouse and plans to expand into trailers placed in a base parking lot.
U.S. Rep Thelma Drake, R-Virginia Beach, whose district includes the local SEAL bases, said a move makes sense for the Navy. She said she discussed the issue with Maguire last year and has since advocated the change with Defense Department leaders.
Drake said the options boiled down to staying on Coronado, a small island city next to San Diego, or moving to Little Creek. A new headquarters would allow senior officers to spend less time traveling between coasts and place special operations commanders in the same time zone, she said.
Drake said a new headquarters also would attract military contractors and establish Hampton Roads as a hub for anti-terrorism and special operations.
"It would bring a real focus to our region," Drake said.
All prospective SEALs go through basic training at Coronado in underwater and demolition tactics, known as BUD/S - Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, SEAL teams have deployed on 18-month schedules, regularly working with Army and Air Force special forces.
If the command decides to move, it would solidify a growing special forces presence in this region.
Since 2003, the Defense Department has allocated nearly $50 million for new training ranges, repair shops and offices for the special warfare community at Little Creek and Dam Neck. The Navy opened a new $6.1 million shooting range for SEALs at Fort Story in Virginia Beach this week.
Congress earmarked another $22 million this year for a special warfare maintenance facility at Little Creek.
No money has been set aside for a new headquarters.
September 30, 2006
Move To Little Creek Considered For SEAL Center
By Louis Hansen
VIRGINIA BEACH - The Navy SEALs command headquarters could be moving to Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base from its longtime location near San Diego, according to Navy and elected officials.
The command could make Hampton Roads the hub of naval special warfare as the Department of Defense seeks to bolster SEAL forces by 25 percent during the next four years.
The 270-person Naval Special Warfare center oversees the operations and training for 2,200 SEAL commandos, plus support teams and fast-boat drivers. About half of the SEALs are based in Virginia Beach at Little Creek and Dam Neck, an annex of Oceana Naval Air Station.
Cmdr. Greg Geisen, spokesman for Naval Special Warfare, said Friday that the command has outgrown its facilities at Coronado Naval Amphibious Base while it has increased operations with East Coast-based special operations units from the Army and Air Force.
"We have never worked more closely with our joint special operations forces than we do today in the global war on terror," he said.
The command's leadership is studying a shift to an East Coast base, Geisen said, adding that it would not uproot SEAL combat teams based on the West Coast. No final decision has been made, and a move probably would not occur for at least three years, he said.
"The command is exploring a variety of options to provide an expanded facility," Geisen said.
Relocating would give the special warfare headquarters modern, spacious facilities and bring SEAL leaders closer to their superiors at the Pentagon and in Tampa, Fla., where the U.S. Special Operations Command is based.
The Naval Special Warfare command has about 150 Navy personnel, led by Rear Adm. Joseph Maguire, and includes about 100 civilian government employees and 20 private contractors. It oversees a force of about 5,400 active-duty personnel and 1,200 reserves.
The headquarters has added about 50 people since 2004 and is expected to grow by another 100 within a few years. The command has been forced to set up temporary offices in a warehouse and plans to expand into trailers placed in a base parking lot.
U.S. Rep Thelma Drake, R-Virginia Beach, whose district includes the local SEAL bases, said a move makes sense for the Navy. She said she discussed the issue with Maguire last year and has since advocated the change with Defense Department leaders.
Drake said the options boiled down to staying on Coronado, a small island city next to San Diego, or moving to Little Creek. A new headquarters would allow senior officers to spend less time traveling between coasts and place special operations commanders in the same time zone, she said.
Drake said a new headquarters also would attract military contractors and establish Hampton Roads as a hub for anti-terrorism and special operations.
"It would bring a real focus to our region," Drake said.
All prospective SEALs go through basic training at Coronado in underwater and demolition tactics, known as BUD/S - Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, SEAL teams have deployed on 18-month schedules, regularly working with Army and Air Force special forces.
If the command decides to move, it would solidify a growing special forces presence in this region.
Since 2003, the Defense Department has allocated nearly $50 million for new training ranges, repair shops and offices for the special warfare community at Little Creek and Dam Neck. The Navy opened a new $6.1 million shooting range for SEALs at Fort Story in Virginia Beach this week.
Congress earmarked another $22 million this year for a special warfare maintenance facility at Little Creek.
No money has been set aside for a new headquarters.
