I will propose a Fort Drum & North Country Community Revitalization plan that would focus on bringing the Fort Drum and North Country Military and Veteran Community into the 21st Century and make the North Country into a place that servicemembers and their families would want to stay at after their service obligations have been met. Currently Fort Drum, Fort Irwin and Fort Polk are generally recognized as the least desirable duty stations in the US Army. All three have the same problem; there are no, or limited amenities to make the servicemembers and families want to stay in the area after their contract is up. My plan contains many topic areas:

I will call for the unification of the entire 10th Mountain Division on Fort Drum. Currently the 3rd Brigade is located at Fort Polk, Louisiana. This would solve logistical problems with a separate Brigade being half the country apart as well as build the local population which has continued to decrease since Fort Drum lost a brigade due to realignment and base closures in 2013. Fort Drum spent a lot of money on resources to improve the base infrastructure just prior to learning that the base would lose a brigade. Additionally, I would move the remaining segments of the Griffiss Air Base to Fort Drum (onto Wheeler Sachs Army Airfield (AAF)) and would rename the installation as Joint Base Drum (JBD). To further strengthen the northern border, I would also add a surveillance / reconnaissance Wing on Wheeler Sachs AAF consisting of E-3 Sentry (AWACS) planes and F-22 (Raptor) fighter jets. I would also move Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) from Rome to Wheeler Sachs AAF.

I will also expand the current training area to include the current Lightfighter School, the addition of an Army Mountaineering, and the addition of a Cold Weather Survival Course on a small camp in the Adirondack Mountains near Lake Placid. Additionally, I would create a Joint Forces Training Area where Canadian and US forces can train and coordinate together. I will push for funding to build a state-of-the-art shooting range / complex which would be accessible to the local community as well as the base itself.

Fort Drum is one of the few installations that does not have its own hospital and shares community services with Watertown. Additionally, the nearest Veterans Affairs Hospital (not clinic) is 65 miles away from Watertown in Syracuse. I suggest the construction of a joint community hospital shared by the installation, Watertown, and the Veterans Affairs. This facility would be located on the edge of the installation or near I-81 and exits 48 and 48A. This facility would be a state-of-the-art medical facility caring for the local community, veterans and the servicemembers and families of the servicemembers of Fort Drum. I’d also locate a Army Medical Command (MEDCOM), Army Dental Command (DENTCOM) and US Army Public Health Command (USAPHC) which would cover the entire Northeastern United States.

I will propose expanding the current Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) funding to construct a joint MWR and United Services Organization (USO) complex to service Fort Drum and the entire Northeastern United States. Part of this would include a resort in the Adirondack Mountains that would provide outdoors features, fishing, hiking, skiing and more. I would also like to see a shared community golf course built between Fort Drum and Watertown to further strengthen the community bond between the base and the local community.

I will propose the creation of a national cemetery and Fort Drum which will also lead to families wanting to stay closer to their loved ones lost.

I will propose funding and grants to add multiple off duty establishments off base as this is a key reason that servicemembers and their families do not stay in the area after their term of service is complete. I would create a free shuttle service linking Fort Drum to the local community.

I will push for funding of the construction of a one-of-a-kind military mall. This facility would include state of the art amenities merging Post Exchange (PX), Commissary and private corporations into the facility, such as Walmart (assuming this could be worked, those with valid ID cards would not pay tax and would receive a “military discount” where the local community would pay tax and the normal price on goods), McDonald’s Panera, IMAX / Regal movie theater and numerous other shopping and dining options. This facility would be constructed in a manner so that residents of base could access it without leaving base and the local community would have a controlled access location as well. This military mall would be set up as a small town / street shopping / dining experience with parks and shops all along the way.

​

I will demand research into updating the backup power system run by RE-POWER. The power station has been deemed to not be a clean source of power and as such has been shut down. This has resulted in near daily power outages and brownouts on the installation, and this is unacceptable.

I will push for the creation of a Gold Star Family Center. This would work with the casualty assistance programs in the military to assist families with the passing of their servicemembers. The primary staff would consist of Gold Star Families.

Finally, I will request funding to build a memorial wall in the joint community to honor the selfless service of 10th Mountain Division Soldiers who have died in the line of duty as well as any North Country Servicemember who died in the line of duty.