On Monday I was fortunate to join many members of the Legislature, as well as statewide elected officials and members of Missouri's federal delegation, in traveling to Ft. Leonard Wood to express opposition to planned manpower cuts at the base.
As Missouri's fifth largest employer, Ft. Leonard Wood supports more than 36,000 direct and indirect jobs and injects billions of dollars into the Missouri economy. Beyond the economic benefits, Ft. Leonard Wood has grown into one of the premier joint training facilities in the nation, preparing soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in critical skills necessary for combat success. Every job lost at Ft. Leonard Wood has a two-fold impact: to the economy and to the training and preparedness of service members.
Both Ft. Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base are vitally important to Missouri and both are worthy of extraordinary efforts to protect them. I was very pleased to see such a broad showing of support, from both parties and from all corners of the state, on Monday evening. This is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue, this is a Missouri issue.
In my business, community and political involvement, I have never before seen this type of turnout and cannot help but believe the Army took appropriate notice. The Senate's commitment to Ft. Leonard Wood and Whiteman AFB is uncompromising, and I will continue working with other members of the Missouri Legislature and our federal delegation to do everything we can to not just sustain the bases, but to ensure their continued growth.
Throughout the life of our nation, the size of the military has ebbed and flowed. Time and time again, politicians have reduced the size of the armed forces only to have calamity and the real world wake us up to the fact that a robust and responsive active duty force is critical to protecting our interests and those of our allies. We relearned and promptly forgot this lesson in World War I, only to relearn it again in World War II. Since World War II we have better understood that a strong military is critical to stopping real and potential threats from our enemies.
Sadly, this administration has taken us far down the path to weakness. Gone is the leadership that recognized the greatness of the United States. Now we have a president who believes we owe the world an apology. Gone is the leadership that recognized strength as a critical component of foreign policy. Now we have a president who believes if we weaken ourselves, our enemies will willingly cooperate with us. Gone is the leadership that respects and honors the men and women in uniform who willingly endure long hours, separation from friends and family, and dangerous conditions. Now we have a president who holds these men and women in contempt and believes in the nobility of ignoring the constitution, and the very system of government, members of the armed forces willingly risk their lives to defend.
Unfortunately, the proposed cuts to personnel at Ft. Leonard Wood are the direct reflection of a president whose priorities and policies do not include an adequate, well-trained and well-equipped military. An active duty Army of 440,000 is wholly insufficient to both protect and project power in the current world. Similarly, a Navy of less than 300 ships, a Marine Corps of less than 190,000, and an Air Force with markedly fewer proven aircraft puts the United States and our allies at risk.
With these numbers we appear weak because we are weakened. With these numbers we see dramatic cuts to bases. With these numbers we injure the economy. Finally, with these numbers we handicap the war-fighting ability of those in uniform. These planned reductions are bad for Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and the entire nation.
As you conclude reading this column, I ask that you please take a moment and pray for the family of Tom Schweich. Tom was laid to rest earlier this week, but the grief that his family feels will take time to heal.
My purpose and my intent is to serve the constituents of the 6th Senatorial District. If you are in the Capitol during the coming weeks and months, please stop by your office in Room 220.
State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, represents the 6th District.