An estimated 95 military and civilian jobs at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, could be affected by a proposed realignment plan announced Friday by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld along with other Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations, base officials reported Saturday.

The Defense Department wants to move the base’s installation management function to U.S. Naval Base Guam to consolidate management while streamlining the manpower needed to perform common jobs, Andersen officials stated in a news release.

About 64 military and 31 civilian positions could be involved, but base officials do not yet know exactly which positions and functions could be affected, according to the news release.

Col. P.K. White, Andersen’s 36th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, said the base fully supports the realignment plan.

“The announced consolidation … is aimed at doing business more efficiently,” he stated in the release. “If our management functions are redundant, it really makes sense to combine our efforts … ”

White also said that Andersen would work closely with Naval Base Guam to determine which positions are impacted and to work out a strategy for transferring and then effectively operating the joint-management functions from the naval station.

The BRAC recommendations do not detract from the military’s buildup plans for the island, White said.

“Although we are losing some positions as a result of this realignment, the Air Force has made a number of significant investments in Guam, so I am confident Andersen will continue to grow over the long term,” he said.

Officials at Andersen could not be reached for further comment Saturday.

The Defense Department’s BRAC recommendations must be approved by President Bush and Congress to move forward.