Monday, February 24, 2014
Selfridge Air National Guard Base’s future has taken another tenuous
turn as an Air Force proposal to eliminate the A-10 aircraft has emerged
as a recommendation from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who is also
eyeing more military base closings.
turn as an Air Force proposal to eliminate the A-10 aircraft has emerged
as a recommendation from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who is also
eyeing more military base closings.
In a speech at the Pentagon Monday afternoon, Hagel announced several
bold moves to reduce and restructure the armed services: cut the size
of the Army to pre-World War II levels; eliminate the A-10s, which are a
key component of the military mission at Selfridge and numerous other
Air National Guard bases; retire the Air Force’s venerable U-2 spy
planes; and cut the size of the Army National Guard by 5 percent.
bold moves to reduce and restructure the armed services: cut the size
of the Army to pre-World War II levels; eliminate the A-10s, which are a
key component of the military mission at Selfridge and numerous other
Air National Guard bases; retire the Air Force’s venerable U-2 spy
planes; and cut the size of the Army National Guard by 5 percent.
Hagel also said the administration will propose a new round of
in-country military base closings in 2017, while noting Congress has
rejected such requests in recent years.
in-country military base closings in 2017, while noting Congress has
rejected such requests in recent years.
The plan to end the A-10 Thunderbolt’s flight service drew immediate
opposition from Sen. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who chairs the
Senate Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Candice Miller, the Harrison
Township Republican whose district includes the base.
“Recently, the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force
concluded that we in Congress were on the right path by recognizing that
the Air Guard was a vital national asset that provided our nation with
great security in a very cost-effective manner that must be utilized. In
fact, the commission even recommended greater reliance on the Air Guard
to save money and maintain a ready force.
concluded that we in Congress were on the right path by recognizing that
the Air Guard was a vital national asset that provided our nation with
great security in a very cost-effective manner that must be utilized. In
fact, the commission even recommended greater reliance on the Air Guard
to save money and maintain a ready force.
“… The (Obama) administration can expect that those of us who so
strongly recognize the important role the National Guard plays in
defending our nation will not back down in ensuring that role is not
diminished.”
strongly recognize the important role the National Guard plays in
defending our nation will not back down in ensuring that role is not
diminished.”
The 1,700 active-duty and National Guard airmen at the Harrison
Township base, the largest military installation in Michigan, are
assigned to two planes, the KC-135 air refueling tanker and the A-10,
affectionately known as the “Warthog.”
The 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge consists of 455 Guardsmen who
are A-10 pilots or engage in maintenance and operations of the 18
aircraft. The unit is also comprised of 180 full-time employees — 21
serve on active-duty status and the remainder are uniformed civilian
technicians.
are A-10 pilots or engage in maintenance and operations of the 18
aircraft. The unit is also comprised of 180 full-time employees — 21
serve on active-duty status and the remainder are uniformed civilian
technicians.
The squadron’s latest deployment overseas was in fall and winter of
2011 when the unit spent four months stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
2011 when the unit spent four months stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno has said the low-flying A-10
performed “incredibly well” in Iraq and Afghanistan, where its mission
was to protect ground troops with bombs and rotary machine guns and
perform its traditional role as a “tank buster.”
But Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh has said other aircraft,
such as the F-16 jet fighter and the long-awaited F-35 aircraft, could
provide all support for ground troops and also perform other missions.
Welsh considers the A-10 a one-dimensional weapon that is obsolete.
such as the F-16 jet fighter and the long-awaited F-35 aircraft, could
provide all support for ground troops and also perform other missions.
Welsh considers the A-10 a one-dimensional weapon that is obsolete.
Despite the outcome of the Air Force structure study, the budget plan
for fiscal year 2015 outlined by Hagel suggests he is siding with
Welsh, not Odierno.
for fiscal year 2015 outlined by Hagel suggests he is siding with
Welsh, not Odierno.
Levin said he believes the Pentagon faces an intense
skirmish on Capitol Hill.
“The A-10 has a vital capability, and we must ensure that we maintain
that capability,” said the senator, who is retiring at the end of the
year. “Those who propose eliminating the A-10 have a heavy burden of
proof. Any such proposal will receive close scrutiny as we develop the
defense authorization act this year.”
that capability,” said the senator, who is retiring at the end of the
year. “Those who propose eliminating the A-10 have a heavy burden of
proof. Any such proposal will receive close scrutiny as we develop the
defense authorization act this year.”
At Selfridge, which will mark its 97th year in operation later this
year, officials were not surprised at Hagel’s announcement but they also
appeared ready for the day when the A-10, which debuted in the 1970s,
will be phased out.
year, officials were not surprised at Hagel’s announcement but they also
appeared ready for the day when the A-10, which debuted in the 1970s,
will be phased out.
“Discussion about the possible elimination of the A-10 from the Air
Force inventory has been going on for some time. Therefore, it is not a
surprise to see Secretary Hagel recommend the elimination of the A-10
fleet from the Air Force,” said Sgt. Dan Heaton, a spokesman for
Selfridge’s host unit, the 127th Wing.
“Our mission will be to continue to train with that aircraft until
such time as we are directed to a new mission by the Air Force. We
continue to believe that the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard
Base is home to some of the most capable and highly skilled Airmen in
the nation. We look forward to the opportunity to engage Michigan’s
airmen with a new long-term mission to secure the defense and safety of
our state and nation.”
such time as we are directed to a new mission by the Air Force. We
continue to believe that the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard
Base is home to some of the most capable and highly skilled Airmen in
the nation. We look forward to the opportunity to engage Michigan’s
airmen with a new long-term mission to secure the defense and safety of
our state and nation.”
The Air Force hopes to retire all 326 A-10 Thunderbolts at a savings of about $3.7 billion.
Levin has conceded that the loss of aircraft would be a “big hit” for
the sprawling base located on Lake St. Clair. In addition to the Air
National Guard squadron, Selfridge is also home to other national
security agencies, such as the Coast Guard and a high-tech Department of
Homeland Security facility that works with local law enforcement
agencies.
the sprawling base located on Lake St. Clair. In addition to the Air
National Guard squadron, Selfridge is also home to other national
security agencies, such as the Coast Guard and a high-tech Department of
Homeland Security facility that works with local law enforcement
agencies.
The attempt by military brass to eliminate the nation’s A-10 fleet
for the 2014 fiscal year was headed off by Congress last year after more
than 30 senators and representatives sent Hagel a blunt and detailed
letter objecting to the preliminary plans.
for the 2014 fiscal year was headed off by Congress last year after more
than 30 senators and representatives sent Hagel a blunt and detailed
letter objecting to the preliminary plans.
When the military brass in 2012 attempted to put the 107th Fighter
Squadron at Selfridge and what was then 24 A-10s on the chopping block,
the proposal united Macomb County’s elected officials and business
community to oppose the plan. The Selfridge Base Community Council
coordinated a lobbying campaign and Gov. Rick Snyder, Oakland County
Prosecutor L. Brooks Patterson and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing joined the
fight, which proved successful last year.
