More evidence appears of 188th mission loss
by February 1, 2012 9:04 pm 97 views
A Military.com story adds more weight to concern that the 188th Fighter Wing based in Fort Smith could lose its A-10 planes as a result of planned deep cuts to the U.S. defense budget.
The unit employs about 350 full-time personnel, with about 1,000 on the base once a month for training.
Military planners are requesting to cut five A-10 squadrons — an active duty unit, a Reserve unit, and three Guard units as part of a large budget cutting plan. The Pentagon on Jan. 26 announced a broad plan to cut at least $487 billion from the U.S. defense budget within the next 10 years.
A source once affiliated with the 188th told The City Wire that A-10 bases at Fort Smith, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Selfridge, Mich., are most likely the Guard units on the chopping block.
But the Military.com story posted Jan. 31 specifically mentions the three units that are likely to be cut.
“The Guard expects the Air Force to order the decommissioning of three of its A-10 Warthog squadrons in Indiana, Arkansas and Michigan, as well as an F-16 squadron in Iowa, according to Guard sources who asked not to be named because the Air Force had not yet made the official force structure announcement,” according to the story. “The three A-10 Guard squadrons set to close — the 107th, 163rd and 184th Fighter Squadrons — recently transitioned from F-16 squadrons as part of the congressionally mandated Base Realignment and Closure process.” (The 184th is the previous designation for the 188th.)
The story also noted that Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, the Air National Guard director, questioned the decision by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz to push for deep cuts with A-10 units. Wyatt suggested the A-10 cuts don’t represent a “balanced” approach that was initially promised.
WEB PUSH
Also, a “Save the Flying Razorbacks” website has been launched by the 188th Fighter Wing/Fort Chaffee Community Council in an effort to raise support for keeping the 188th mission intact. The website was created by cstraight Media, based in Vienna, Va.
The online effort also includes a Facebook page launched Jan. 27. The Facebook page had 328 people and organizations "liking" the page as of late Wednesday (Feb. 1).
Concern about the 188th’s future comes four years after the unit converted from the F-16 fighter jet to the A-10 ground support aircraft. Conversion to the A-10 was the product of a last minute reversal of a decision to close the 188th. During May 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission was faced with 834 closings or realignment recommendations from the Department of Defense.