Defense Cuts Could Cost Fort Smith, Other Areas Of State Hundreds of Millions

The Pentagon’s budget proposed Monday (Feb. 13) continues to push for deep cuts in A-10 units nationwide — a push that could result in about 300 job losses in Fort Smith, according to a rough estimate by the 188th Steering Committee.

An Air Force “re-missioning” plan released Feb. 3 calls for the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith to lose its 20 A-10 aircraft, with the unit to convert to operating the unmanned Predator aircraft.

Moving the A-10’s out of Fort Smith is expected in fiscal year 2013. The unit employs about 350 full-time personnel, with about 1,000 on the base once a month for training. The annual economic impact of the 188th is $150 million.

Tracy Winchell, communications manager for the city of Fort Smith and member of the 188th Steering Committee of 188th/Fort Chaffee Community Council, said a rough estimate on personnel for an unmanned mission would see the full time job number drop to around 55, with about 300 on the base for monthly training.

“We wouldn’t mind being wrong on that, but that (job losses) is not acceptable,” Winchell explained.

You can read more on the subject here, including estimates from a conservative think tank’s report which estimates defense budget cuts costing all areas of Arkansas anywhere from $55 million to $109 million in additional annual business losses.

Michael Tilley with our content partner, The City Wire, is the author of this report. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].