Introduction to BRAC

Base realignment and closure (BRAC) is the process that DoD uses to reorganize its installation infrastructure to more efficiently and effectively support its forces, increase operational readiness, and facilitate new ways of doing business. The BRAC process enables DoD to better match existing facilities to its changing military requirements.

Congress authorized the first BRAC Round in 1988 (BRAC I). Designed to promote modernization, reduce operating costs, and eliminate excess military infrastructure, this first round focused on closing large-scale operations and redefined how DoD conducted its everyday operations. Subsequent to 1988, Congress authorized three additional rounds of base realignments and closures in 1991 (BRAC II), 1993 (BRAC III), and 1995 (BRAC IV). In total, BRAC Rounds I through IV identified approximately 497 installations throughout the country for realignment or closure, of which 208 installations required at least some level of environmental restoration. Much of this acreage has been transferred and put into productive reuse.

Congress authorized the most recent round of base realignments and closures in 2005 (BRAC V). BRAC V centers on reducing excess infrastructure capacity and primarily focuses on the realignment of existing infrastructure and resources, rather than closure. DoD has designed BRAC V to build upon the processes used in previous BRAC efforts by combining the successful tools and techniques used in BRAC Rounds I through IV with new innovations for the BRAC V Round. With BRAC V, DoD continues to efficiently cleanup installations, put surplus property back into successful economic and community use, and build America’s defense programs for the future.

BRAC Round I-V Installations