Friday the 13th brought potentially bad luck to this region, a part of the country that has long done its part in proudly populating the ranks of the nation's military forces. But when Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld announced the Pentagon's recommendations to close or realign bases, history did not count for much in any part of Pennsylvania.

That the fifth round of base closings since 1988 -- conducted by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission -- did not spare the state is cause for alarm but not despair. These are just recommendations, the first salvo in a larger battle now joined by communities across the nation that understandably want to keep their bases and the jobs that go with them.

The BRAC process is a big undertaking, involving the closing of 33 major bases and the realignment of 29 more at a potential savings of nearly $50 billion over two decades.

This is perhaps to Pennsylvania's advantage, because the big savings are going to come elsewhere, at places that employ thousands such as Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota and the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Conn. As painful as local cuts may be, they are small potatoes in the larger scheme of things and the ax may be more easily stayed because the potential returns are smaller.

In Allegheny County, the Air Force Reserve's 911th Tactical Airlift Group base near Pittsburgh International Airport in Moon and operations at the Army's Charles E. Kelly Support Facility in Collier are recommended for closing. Additionally, it is proposed that the Army's 99th Regional Readiness Command in Moon be sent elsewhere.

In total, 13 military installations in Pennsylvania are recommended for closing -- including the Willow Grove Naval Air Station outside Philadelphia. Five others would be downsized. According to The Associated Press, Pennsylvania would see a net loss of 1,658 military and civilian jobs under the proposal.

It is important to remember no closings will occur until a review is completed and Congress votes. That presents an opportunity.

In this situation, military metaphors suggest themselves. The way to win battles is to:

1. Be well prepared. Fortunately, Gov. Ed Rendell has made a good start, anticipating the problem by appointing the Pennsylvania Base Development Committee, which is dedicated to resisting any further base closings in the state. The Allegheny County Airport Authority has also been proactive. Some years ago it set aside land adjacent to the military base at the airport for possible expansion. Moreover, a local coalition of public and private figures has also been studying the economic value of the bases here.

2. Rely on experience. This region has the advantage of having been previously successful in this process. That the 911th Tactical Airlift Group is still out at the airport is due to a specially appointed committee building an excellent case on its behalf concerning its military usefulness.

3. Show a united front. The BRAC process is supposed to be nonpolitical, and making the best military argument is still the best strategy. But an energetic response from the political leadership and the community must complement the presentation of the local case.

It was heartening Friday to see public officials -- Democrats and Republicans -- all united in the common cause of saving the local bases. Sen. Rick Santorum, Rep. Melissa Hart, Rep. Tim Murphy and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato were among those gathered together. Others stand ready to help.

4. Have a battle plan. Several speakers at the press conference indicated that the recommendations did not accurately reflect the reality on the ground here, including the available land for expansion at the airport. The important role of local reserve units in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was also noted. Good arguments to keep local facilities open should not be hard to find.

The good news is that first shots rarely decide the battle, and this region has only just begun to fight.