navy rumors?

would be interesting for sure

The VP of the US came down to the islands for a vacation, VERY shortly after his visit Hovensa announced it was closing. Maybe some truth to the rumors or a co instance?*-)

Out of the Blue the VI Air National Guard gets a" NEW MISSION".

Interesting question. After looking into my crystal hub cap, burning three goat bones and swinging a chicken after midnight, the answer is a clear and resounding NO WAY.
1) The military is scaling down at home and abroad.
2) Satilite technology is a cheep substitute for an off-shore presence.
3) The navy used Vieques for "target practice". Main base was Roosevelt Roads on PR. (Thanks to the Navy, a large part of Vieques is now a superfund site. The tiny island has an crazy high rate of childhood cancers. The snorkling sucks beacuse of the dead reefs. No fun living next door to a bombing range.)
4) Maybe the USN will contract a "fuel storage" lease, but that's probably about it.

BTW, I still maintain that VP Biden's "pre-shut-down" visit was a last ditch effort to broker some sort of deal between HOVENSA and the VI government--a hail mary to keep the plant open. With the refinery closed and the Iran situation, our US gas prices are hitting an all time high ($4.70 @ gallon in So. Cal) with no celling in sight. Not good for the national economy, especially with the upcoming presidential election around the corner. In retrospec, the feds should have done more....

Darn, I was praying it was true. The thing I miss most about Virginia Beach, Va. is all the Navy guys.

Blu4u,
Your bones,crystal hub cap, chickens,and goats haven't kept current regarding the military assignments in/on the USVI. The USVI Air National Guard was to be deactivated and colors retired. Well that didn't happen, This week they just received a new larger mission. So shake them bones. polish that hub cap, feed them chickens and goats.because something is in the wind.

If the USVI national guard moves in, would the DOD be required fund the EPA clean-up compliance measures? In essence, the government would assume the cost of the clean-up which Hovensa protested and cited as contributing factor in closure. Wouldn't that be ironic, in a VI sorta way...?

It's The USVI Air National Guard that received the New Mission. The Air Guard uses the Shared USVI Air Ports not the oil refinery.Environmental clean up is your speculation at this point in time. The New Air Guard mission is fact. The Navy is there now without a permanent port.

One thing about which we don't need to speculate is that the VING is getting a multi-million dollar facility upgrade right now, which has been ongoing for at least a year.

Who is speculating? Do you know for a fact they are or are not. Share your knowledge. I don't recall any mention of a multi- million dollar upgrade, just a much larger mission.

Sorry to be th bearer of bad news, but I think that the chances of any new acquisitions on behalf of the military on stx is a moot point. Let's look at the facts; the facility upgrades and gaining a few parcels is to strengthen the reserve sector, because while the military is planned to be downsized, reserve forces are being strengthened.

There is probably little strategic value of forward deploying a reserv naval group in our area- after all, the atlantic feet command divested itself of Roosevelt Roads- a very large forward naval concentration...Cuba has downplayed, the Panama Canal shipping lanes are easily patrolled and defended by modern naval weapons and technology.

Our reserve readiness levels with respect to naval and merchant shipping are at probably an all time high- very large, high speed vessels could make it from New Orleans to Panama between 47 hours (30 knots) and 58 hours (24 knots)- Naval vessels probably somewhere between. One merchant ship (SS Bellatrix) transited from Beaumont to the Panama Canal in less than 48 hours, laden with enough armor to take over Panama in three days...She made32 knots over the ground and dropped her ro-ro ramps in the canal!

But what country would attack Panama or the VI? No, I think the greatest military concentration in the territory will consist of National Guard-Reserve Forces, and Hurricane Tracking...

I think I did mention the Air National Guard, I also think you are dead wrong! Time will tell mate!
Cheers!

Forgive me for being direct, but your grasp of strategic matters is, as usual with most ordinary people is nil.

Okay- permit me to educate you- Assess the threat. Plan the Strategy to Neutralize the Threat. Asses the Logistics and Forward Logistics required. Deployment of Forces. Execution of Strategy.

1) Prospective opponents- (Regional) A) Venezuela B) Cuba C) Forward Deployed Subs ((Sequester/Loiter)- Canal Routes
2)Threat Level Capability- Low
3) Necessary Forces to Overcome- 1 to 2 Carrier Task Forces (We have 13?), 2 Strategic Air Wings, 1 EW Wing
4) Estimated time to Neutralize Venezuelano Threat- Less Than 48 hours.
5) Invasion- None.
6) ASW- One Carrier/Surface Group, numerous other assets- none of which is the Air National Guard.

Therefore, ANY concentration of forces in the VI would be for R&R...Or, better yet- another form of financial infusion to the local economy to support Reserve components by modernization. The ONLY reason STT and to a lesser extent STX was used was primarily as Forward Anti-Submarine Warfare Bases- i.e. Destroyer Escorts, PBY's and other air flight concentration to neutralize U Boats.....

I believe the initial idea was thrown out first on the Straight Talk with Redfield 97 radio talk show. I personally heard him throwing out the idea several times on his show with numerous individuals, including current senators. Normal response was great idea---and thats all it is.

The idea has created more discussion on the Virgin Islands---but dont think it has gone further. With housing, port, etc.....it makes sense. But reality, alot of discussion has to be with the federal government and it appears the idea of Navy using HOVENSA is just another thought of what could be.

One could only hope that the VI might benefit in some way from the turmoil the impending world financial apocolypse and upcoming war with Iran will cause.

Just a coincidence ??? Army National guard has started listing a lot of jobs on "USA JOBS" recently?!?! Too bad I'm too OLD to join the service !!!

Matt it is not a coincidence. The VI Guard has been posting positions on USA JOBS for almost 2 years. Moreover, the positions posted are for existing units in the Virgin Island Army and Air Guard.

However, we can keep the idea of the Navy someday utilizing St Croix by keep discussing it and letting our government officials know "no stone must be turned" exploring use of St Croix for military purposes.

Perhaps the Navy should be invited BACK to take over the entire island.
Just saying.

.....Who said the Navy was going to take over the refinery. I spoke of a larger mission recently given to the USVI Air National Guard and I repeat that's a fact.

The orginal post questioned the notion of the Navy moving into hovensa:

occasionally i have heard rumors or talk of the possibility of the navy buying hovensa. has anyone else heard anything similar? the reasons were 1/ close to panama canal 2/ navy left vieques 3/depth and size appropriate for navy fleet 4/ available housing etc. etc.very curious ,what does everyone think????

Navy "taking over" hovensa -- nope. (according to my crystal hub cap)
The National Guard, as branch of the military, "took a bit hit for the team" in Iraq. I wouldn't be surprised to see a $$$ infusion towards re-grouping certain units.

Nobody stated that the Navy was going to take over Hovensa only questioned a rumor.
The Dollar infusion is already happening not just on the table for the USVI Air National Guard. Oh and it's a changing world so don't say never or nope regarding defense issues.
I will be the first to admit I don't know what the future holds, but I'm not going to blow out my tail end a lot unknown strategies for the US Military.

Posts 21 Thur 68 disappeared......
Too bad because the topics gave a good insight as to what former military personnel may encounter if they are considering relocating the VI.

Once again, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the vets for their sacrifices and service to our nation. Thank you.

(hope that isn't too offensive!)

Maybe too much whining to moderator. I remember when I was little my mother would say if you tattle one more time everyone will have to go home. In other words, work it out or don't read it. Sometimes things that are posted here make me upset. Sometimes I respond in a negative way. Almost always, I wish I hadn't. I try to think, is what this person is saying hurting me or do I just not like it. I seem to always jump in and put my foot in my mouth when posters are being bullies but sometimes I am the only one who thinks someone is being a bully. Likewise, sometimes other posters think that someone is a jerk and I think they are posting factual information. In my case, it is better to move on and ignore things I don't like. We all have different personalities and differences. I don't care if people argue here. It is like a debate. What I don't understand are people who try to get other posters banned because of opinion. Ignore it if you don't like it.

Right on Doug!

We all have different personalities and differences. I don't care if people argue here. It is like a debate. What I don't understand are people who try to get other posters banned because of opinion. Ignore it if you don't like it.

I'm all for different opinions when stated respectfully. I am against offensive and disrespectful postings, and I am against trolling.

One could only hope that the VI might benefit in some way from the turmoil the impending world financial apocolypse and upcoming war with Iran will cause.

The VI will NOT benefit from World War Three, which is what we are facing if anybody attacks Iran. The Iranians will immediately close the Straits of Hormuz if attacked..of course, the armchair warriors here will say that the mighty US Navy and Air Force will keep the Straits open, never mind the numerous Sunburn (look it up on Google) anti-ship missiles that Iran has in its arsenal...and never mind that the sinking of just ONE oil tanker will cause the insurance rates on shipping to skyrocket, thereby causing a slowdown or stopping of oil shipments.

A stoppage of oil shipments will result in YOU paying $10.00 per gallon for gas, and a collapse of the world economy.

An attack on Iran would quickly escalate into a nuclear war. Iran would fire thousands of missiles at targets in the Middle East, and at least one of those targets has nukes and does not like to lose..plus, the so-called "bunker buster bombs" are in reality tactical nukes, so it is a nuclear war at the outset...Iran is NOT a soft target like Libya or Iraq. Iran is a large country of seventy million people who will fight back.

Russia is an ally of Iran (and Syria). The Bushehr nuclear reactor was built by Russia, and there are Russian technicians on site. Russia will not take kindly to the killing of its citizens in an unprovoked attack against a UN member state (such an attack is illegal by US laws, BTW).

An attack on Iran will quickly escalate into a worldwide nuclear war involving Russia and China, both of which have enough nukes to devastate the world in a counter-strike.

Syria has advanced Russian S300 anti-aircraft weapons. Any attempt to set up a "no-fly zone" as in Libya will result in the justified shoot-down of airspace-violating aircraft, which will lead to escalated attacks against the nation of Syria, which will draw the Russians into the conflict as they have a naval base in Syria.

There are no more soft targets. Any airplane or missile hitting Iran or Syria WILL result in World War Three and the destruction of life as we know it...yes, it is that serious. If there ever was a time for a statesman for peace it is now, but most people are in a stupor and will only wake up when the defecation hits the fan.

Most people will not believe the truth, but the truth does not fear investigation...feel free to investigate anything written here.

We need calm heads right now, not warmongering...the USVI will NOT escape unscathed from the coming world war. We will be dead along with everybody else, as radiation poisoning knows no borders.

You better pray that NOBODY attacks Iran or Syria, or the Mayans may be proven right after all.