Gen. Lehnert addresses SANDAG

Major General Michael R. Lehnert, the commander of Marine Corps Installation West, spoke to the San Diego Association of Governments board September 22 on major regional issues associated with his command.

“We strive to work together and assist the communities whenever we can,” Lehnert told the SANDAG board. “We are part of your community.”

Lehnert had been the base commander at Camp Pendleton before the Marine Corps reorganized its command structure, placing colonels as base commanders and creating the Marine Corps Installation West to oversee all Marine Corps bases west of the Mississippi River with the exception of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

“In many ways these installations aren’t much different than the cities and towns,” Lehnert noted.

There are, however, some differences between Marine Corps bases and cities or towns. “I don’t have to get elected and I don’t have to get re-elected,” Lehnert remarked.

Other differences are even more significant. “We are a nation at war and these installations are the training platforms,” Lehnert said.

Approximately 75 percent of United States Marine Corps servicemen live off base. “They’re part of your communities. They go to your places of worship. They send their kids to your schools, our schools, and they contribute to the community,” Lehnert noted.

Lehnert told the SANDAG audience that he and his representatives often receive positive feedback from towns. “You make us feel welcome,” he said.

The Marine Corps is not in the economic development business but is part of the regional economy. “We’re also mindful of the impact of our training,” he noted.

The Marine Corps can often accommodate the needs of a neighboring community when its mission of preparedness isn’t compromised. “We couldn’t be more happy to have Camp Pendleton for neighbors,” said Oceanside deputy mayor and SANDAG representative Shari Mackin.

Some of that accommodation helps neighboring communities avoid impacts such as noise or traffic while other assistance to civilian communities allows use of Marine Corps land. Freeways have been placed through Marine bases, what is now a Marine Corps installation hosts the Miramar Landfill to serve San Diego’s waste disposal needs, and Camp Pendleton includes a state park and the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station as well as part of Interstate 5. “These are all things that we were able to work through,” Lehnert said. “Where we can accommodate our neighbors without affecting our national security mission, we do.”

Because an advisory proposal to relocate San Diego’s commercial airport to the Miramar base will be on the November ballot, the Marine Corps is prohibited from lobbying against the joint use proposal. Marine Corps staff are allowed to respond to questions about potential joint use of Marine land for a commercial airport. “I would flat out say we couldn’t do it,” Lehnert told the SANDAG board.

Lehnert explained to the SANDAG audience that uncompromising opposition does not equate to a lack of response to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “Our responsibilities are to the American people and to you,” he said. “I believe we have responded to every request for information.”

In addition to base security and soldier preparedness issues, a joint use airport would also jeopardize the safety of airline passengers since military airports are often used by inexperienced pilots in training. “The simple fact is there is no way that we can,” Lehnert remarked.

“Communication is a two-way street,” noted El Cajon mayor and SANDAG representative Mark Lewis, whose city is host to House of Representatives Armed Services Committee chairman Duncan Hunter.

Marine Corps Installation West has staff members dedicated full-time to working with other governments. “We look forward to working with you,” Lehnert said. “We would welcome the opportunity to have MCI West represented on the SANDAG board in an advisory manner.”

Currently SANDAG’s advisory members include the Department of Defense; that position is filled by a US Navy representative.

“I think it would be very appropriate to have them represented here,” remarked Encinitas mayor and SANDAG representative Christy Guerin.

“The Marine Corps is here for the long term,” Lehnert noted. “It’s a future that can be rich and beneficial for all of us.”