Armed Services Committee held a hearing on military compensation where witnesses,
including U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno, challenged the administration’s proposal
to retire the entire A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft fleet, including those stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township.
Committee members who spoke out against the plan were
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Saxby Chambliss
(R-GA), and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH).
Additionally, members
of the House Armed Services Committee — Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Rep.
Austin Scott (R-GA), and Rep. Ron Barber (D-AZ) — are expected to introduce a budget
amendment that would fully
preserve the A-10 fleet through 2015. The amendment would
also direct the Government Accountability Office to study the capabilities of
alternate close air support planes to determine if they can protect ground troops
as successfully as the low-flying A-10.
Harrison Township Republican, issued a statement on House and Senate
efforts underway to prevent the Obama administration from divesting the entire
A-10 Thunderbolt fleet as proposed in the president’s fiscal year 2015 budget.
“Yesterday, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno told the U.S. Senate
Armed Services Committee that our ground troops, ‘believe’ in the A-10 fleet,”
Miller said. “I hear the same thing all the time from our troops who
have engaged in combat. They all agree that the A-10 is indispensable and
reliable when facing the enemy. That is another reason why I am so proud
of the job the 107th Fighter Squadron, who fly A-10s out of
Selfridge Air National Guard Base, has done to protect our troops in
combat.
support combat plane were reiterated by the fleet’s clear champions in the
Senate, Sens. McCain, Graham, Chambliss, and Ayotte, and serve as further proof
that the administration’s attempt to prematurely retire the fleet is
shortsighted.”
Miller, R-Harrison Township, played a key
role in defeating the Obama administration’s attempt to eliminate and/or reduce
the Air National Guard personnel and assets, including the A-10 Thunderbolt
aircraft that are stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison
Township. In the end, the Pentagon budgets of 2013 and 2014 preserved Air
Guard resources until an analysis could be conducted on the Air Force and its
current and future structure with respect to its mission.
The detailed
report, completed earlier this year by the National Commission on
the Structure of the Air Force, included recommendations to the president, the
Department of Defense and Congress to evaluate and improve the overall
structure of the Air Force. The commission recommended that the Air Force
place greater reliance on the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve to lower
overall military personnel costs and produce a more ready and capable
force.
Despite this
recommendation for cost-effectiveness, Miller said, the administration is again
proposing to eliminate the entire A-10 fleet without identifying a specific replacement.
“The A-10 fleet is not only the most trusted amongst our ground troops,
but also the most cost-effective,” she said.
cost to operate the A-10 is approximately $17,000 per hour compared to $54,000
for the B-1 bomber – a suggested replacement for the A-10.
our ground troops’ reliance on and confidence in the A-10 fleet, Congress
should listen. Our troops put their lives in harm’s way for our liberty,
and we need to make sure we do everything possible to protect them in battle,
which is why I stand with my colleagues in the House and Senate to fight for
the A-10 fleet and ensure that it remains a ready force for our
ground troops until we can provide a suitable alternative.”
I stand with Candice Miller on this. The A-10s are part of our standing defense. Selfridge would be hurt beyond repair if the A-10's were cut.