Declining personnel

It seems now that naval leaders are warning Sen. Olympia Snowe and others that the Navy is stretched too thin (BDN, Oct. 14); the number of personnel is declining as well as the number of ships. While I am not prepared to address the declining ships, I can and will comment on declining personnel.

If the Navy continues on its course of forcing its sailors to fleet concentration areas such as Norfolk and San Diego it is no wonder they are having difficulties in retention. A case in point is the Cutler Naval Station and the Naval Security Group Activity in Winter Harbor. These are ideal facilities for sailors to rotate to from tours of duty at sea. Secluded facilities such as these offer a safe place for children to go to school and for sailors to actually become part of a community. There are fewer drugs and violence and by and large most sailors prefer facilities such as Cutler Naval Station and NSGA Winter Harbor.

So I question Defense Secretary Bill Cohen in advancing the demise of these two secluded military installations, notwithstanding the economic impact that will result as Washington and Hancock counties say goodbye to the military force structure that has been a part of these communities for 40-plus years. Elmer L. Harmon President AFGE Local 2635 Machias