Senator Cites Army’s Recognition of Fort Monmouth Invention as Reason to Keep Base Open
TRENTON – Senator Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, a leading advocate in the State for efforts to protect Fort Monmouth from federal closure, issued the following statement today regarding the base being recognized in the Army’s annual “Top Ten Greatest Inventions” awards on Wednesday for its part in developing a lightweight counter-mortar radar that has been used successfully in Iraq:
“Wednesday’s announcement that Fort Monmouth has, yet again, played a leading role in the military’s technological support in the War in Iraq is a prime example of why the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) Commission should spare the base from federal closure.
Fort Monmouth has once again proven that it is a viable and active participant in the military’s ongoing operations, providing a useful tool that detects and tracks long-range mortar rounds, and pinpoints the firing weapon. In the war in Iraq, where every block of city and every inch of desert is a potential battleground, the ability to accurately detect and remove long-range weapons has undoubtedly saved the lives of military personnel stationed there.
“We will continue to work to make the case against closure, but when the Army comes out and declares that Fort Monmouth is one of the best, and has developed another key tool in our prolonged War overseas, that severely undercuts the Pentagon’s recommendation to close the installation. The Department of Defense should take their own advice and allow Fort Monmouth to continue to contribute to the military’s continued success abroad.”