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| Air Force might target guard, reserve in base closings |
| 2003-10-30 |
| The Air Force’s plans for the upcoming base realignment and closure round could include an aggressive policy of closing Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard facilities and moving their units to active bases, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper suggested Wednesday (Oct 22). Although guard and reserve facilities usually involve far fewer jobs than active duty bases, they often have high political profiles, which could make the proposal controversial in Congress and state governments. Ya think? Jumper discussed the possible merger of active and reserve units during a speech at a Capitol Hill forum held by DFI International. After proclaiming that the "Total Force" concept of melding active, reserve and guard units has been tested in combat and proven its worth, Jumper suggested their activities needed to be even more thoroughly merged. "There are ways to combine units and we have to think about it," Jumper said. He said the Air Force was exploring the possibility of combining active, guard and reserve personnel into new squadrons that will receive the new F/A-22 and F-35 fighters. "Where we have active duty units in close proximity to guard or reserve units doing about the same thing, it is hard for us to justify the extra expense of keeping those two places open, guarding those two bases to the higher standard that we have to guard them to after [Sept. 11, and] duplicating command structures, when they could be together," he said. Makes real good sense for the Air Force, after the cuts the active force has taken there should be plenty of ramp space for the Reserve and Guard assets. They have been working closely with the active force for a long time anyway. Jumper did not provide any details or mention the base closing process in connection with that comment. Launch the trial balloon, and see how much AAA you draw. But the prospect of closing Air Guard and Air Force Reserve facilities more than doubles the potential targets for the base-closing process, which is scheduled for 2005. There are 85 Air Guard and Air Force Reserve stations around the nation in virtually every state, many of them at civilian airports. A lot of these are very small units as well. There are about 60 active Air Force bases in the United States, although some do not have operational aircraft. Well, some of those don’t have runways, so it’s kind of hard for the aircraft to land. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #8 PR--cut them loose--the NYC welfare rolls would drop--big time--American idiocy has sent these assholes to pollute our greatest city--free Puerto Rico now!--make it independent and subject to out (laughable) immigration laws |
| Posted by: NotMikeMoore 2003-10-31 12:00:02 AM |
| #7 How about Roosevelt Roads in P.R.? SH should know about that place. If were giving Vieques back (total bull shit imho, been there & have a good story on it but not for now) Rosey Roads is useless other than free cha-ching for the locals. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-10-30 11:49:24 PM |
| #6 Well--they won't close anything in NC so the transfer of wealth continues from the NE, midwest to the SE & SW |
| Posted by: NotMikeMoore 2003-10-30 10:53:55 PM |
| #5 Good idea... we need way, way fewer bases. Luckily I live near the indispensiable ones. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-10-30 8:31:51 PM |
| #4 I think it's important to have the Army and Air Force bases and reserve units distributed throughout the country. If something is important enough to go to war over, the reserves should always be called up and it's best to have all corners of the country involved and affected. My brother flys Navy aircraft out of Oklahoma. That's different. A Navy base in Oklahoma is an example of stupidity and pork. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-30 7:57:04 PM |
| #3 Even when Da Mayor got behind it, it took forever to move the Reserve unit from O'Hare Airport in Chicago (only the busiest airport in the wolrd) to Rockford, a two hour drive. People went crazy. It finally happened, and Da Mayor now has more land for more airport, so it can be done. I wouldn't get my hopes up. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-10-30 3:59:30 PM |
| #2 I agree with Chuck, but maybe in this cash strapped era Jumper can win? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2003-10-30 3:22:55 PM |
| #1 The Guard and Reserve bases are, first and foremost, payola to the Congressional district. The likelihood of any significant closures is slim. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2003-10-30 2:34:11 PM |