Washington ? As the Defense Department moves forward with its first base closure process in a decade, officials in Kansas and Missouri remain hopeful their states will escape unscathed and say some of the states’ military bases might even get new missions or troops.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is expected to submit his list of recommended closures and realignments by the end of this week.

Kansas officials and members of Congress say years of lobbying and planning should spare the state’s four installations — Fort Leavenworth, about 25 miles north of Kansas City, Fort Riley near Junction City, McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita and Forbes Field south of Topeka.

“I’m hesitant to say that, in baseball terms, we could go four-for-four, but that’s what we hope,” said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. “You never know what’s going to happen, but I think there’s reason for optimism.”

In Missouri, Whiteman Air Force Base near Sedalia and the Army’s sprawling Fort Leonard Wood near Waynesville in the south-central part of the state also appear to be safe from closure, according to Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.

“I’m cautiously optimistic on both the installations,” said Skelton, whose district includes both bases. “It makes sense to add missions or people to both of them.”

Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, is part of the military’s ongoing attempt to transform itself to meet post-Cold War needs. Closing bases is expected to save money over the long run, while base realignments advance the ability of the military services to operate and train together.

Some Kansas bases could expand in the realignment process. Fort Riley already is scheduled to receive about 3,400 more soldiers next year with the arrival of the 6th Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division. Roberts calls that number “a precursor” and said there was a chance Fort Riley eventually could receive up to 10,000 new troops.

There is even optimism about Forbes Field remaining open, despite perennial concerns that it is vulnerable, said Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Kan, who helped secure language in last year’s Defense Authorization bill to study the need for a new homeland security mission there.

Fort Leavenworth could benefit if the Pentagon decides to close the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., which provides senior-level training, mostly to colonels or lieutenant colonels in the Army or the equivalent in other branches.