Silent Enemy: Mitigating Unseen Threats to Military Base Facilities

U.S. military bases are the foundation of national defense. Housing thousands of service members, advanced weaponry, confidential plans and key data that ensure the protection of American civilians, they are some of the most secure facilities on the planet, and rightfully so. Military facilities experts must protect and maintain every kind of building from a host of potential threats.

But the past two decades have witnessed the rise of new types of dangers – those that are harder to detect and divert. Cyber security attacks are now commonplace, occurring every few seconds. Unmanned drones fly undetected through radar fields. And adversaries are testing weapons that move through the outer levels of the atmosphere.

But one source of threat stands out above others in the lack of ability to control and defend against it: climate disasters. Even when detected early, they are able to cause massive damage to military facilities, crippling regional defense operations and leaving bases vulnerable to other physical or cyber attacks.

Currently, the majority of emerging unseen threats to military facilities stem from climate change. Once built for a mostly predictable range of weather and climate events, nearly all military installations are having their limits tested on a regular basis by what were once “unprecedented” events.

As these once rare weather and climate events become more routine, as they have over the past several decades, preparedness becomes essential. No longer able to be attributed as one-off incidents, military facilities leaders who’ve not yet acted need to assess the resiliency of their current facilities and create long-term plans based on data-driven findings.

“The resilience of our installations is not just a priority; it is imperative for national security. Infrastructure that is not fortified for a climate-affected future will have significant costs, both to budgets and mission-readiness.” — Fortifying the Force: Robust Resilience in Military Installations eBook, Gordian and Government Business Council

With all this being said, what are some of the specific unseen threats to U.S. military bases?

Extreme heat poses significant challenges for U.S. military bases, affecting personnel, equipment and infrastructure. Prolonged high temperatures can lead to heat-related illnesses among service members and degrade the performance and lifespan of critical equipment.

Bringing record-breaking wind speeds, storm surge and rainfall, hurricanes threaten coastal military installations, which can cause widespread damage to infrastructure and disrupt operations.

Flooding, whether from heavy rainfall, storm surges or rising sea levels, can significantly impact military base operations by damaging infrastructure, compromising security and disrupting logistics.

Droughts present a unique set of challenges, particularly for bases reliant on local water sources for daily operations and training exercises. Water scarcity can strain resources, affecting everything from drinking water supplies to landscape maintenance and fire suppression capabilities.

Learn more about these unseen threats to bases by downloading our latest eBook, “Fortifying the Force: Robust Resilience in Military Installations”

With over 50% of military bases being vulnerable to the direct impact of climate-change, facilities leaders are quickly becoming well-versed on the newest and most advanced climate-related risk mitigation efforts available. Advanced storm surge barriers, greywater recycling systems, innovative drainage and energy-efficient cooling systems are becoming a must in various parts of the world.

Additionally, the DoD has initiated the development and implementation of both immediate and long-term strategies. These include transitioning to sustainable energy sources, reducing emissions and ensuring a competitive advantage on the global stage.

For military bases still needing vital improvements but lacking direction on what facilities updates to make, there are exceptional solutions available:

Assessments and Capital Planning: Effectively manage facility needs by using objective data and strategic planning tools to prioritize and streamline them. By clearly identifying hidden risks on-base, evaluating mitigation strategies and articulating them in terms that leadership understands, you can ensure a precise allocation of resources.

Using Gordian’s Assessments and Capital Planning solutions — such as a Facility Condition Assessment or Facility Condition Assessment+ — enables you to develop a well-informed strategy, communicate needs efficiently and optimize the use of capital for future investments.

Job Order Contracting (JOC): This Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) construction delivery method facilitates the completion of numerous projects under a single competitively-awarded contract. This streamlined solicitation process accelerates project initiation and fosters collaboration between project owners and selected contractors, leading to improved quality of work.

Understanding and mitigating unseen threats to U.S. military bases is imperative for ensuring the continued readiness and performance of the military itself. By designing installations that reduce risks and are prepared for future challenges, all branches of the military can enhance base security and longevity.

Ready to discover how we can help you build resilient facilities on your base? Contact our experts today.