Hagan Talks with Military Spouses About Issues in Spring Lake

News Article

By Paul Woolverton

Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan visited Spring Lake for a campaign stop on Monday, but she spent more time listening than speech-making.

Eight military spouses and an Air Force reservist met with Hagan at the home of Mayor Chris Rey to share their concerns, problems and fears.

During the conversation in Rey's living room, Hagan barely mentioned her opponent in the November election, Republican state House Speaker Thom Tillis.

Instead, she had her staff take notes of issues raised by the spouses and the reservist.

Air Force wife Donna Cheek and others said that they were recently told the 440th Airlift Wing at Fort Bragg is scheduled to shut down in March instead of staying in place at least through September of next year as previously announced.

"So that brings down a lot of uncertainty" for the personnel and their families, Cheek said.

The new March date could not be independently confirmed by The Fayetteville Observer late Monday.

A message on Oct. 7 from Brig. Gen. James P. Scanlan on the unit's Facebook page says the Air Force as of that date planned to keep the unit through September.

The 440th, whose C-130 cargo planes are used by the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, has been marked for deactivation to save money.

Hagan and other politicians who represent the Fort Bragg community have tried to prevent and delay the shutdown.

The March date was news to Hagan.

"We will follow up on that," she assured the group. "We will follow up on this today."

She reiterated her efforts to keep the 440th going.

"We've got legislation ... that we're going to pass, soon, that says that we need - I need - we need another report," Hagan said. "And then there needs to be 60 days for the (General Accounting Office) to study that report, and then public comment back. That is going to take longer than March."

The spouses had other issues.

Susan Reynolds was worried because her Air Force husband is deploying to Africa for the Ebola mission.

He returned from Afghanistan in March, she said, and wondered where the money will come from to pay for the new mission.

"It's very concerning because we hear 'cuts-cuts-cuts-cuts-cuts,' and yet here we are sending people everywhere," Reynolds said.

Hagan told Reynolds that the Armed Services Committee has approved $750 million of spending for the Africa Ebola mission.

"That's a very good thing," said Reynolds, who sees diseases such as Ebola as threats to national security.

Spouses with autistic children said they were worried that Tricare will no longer pay for civilian treatment.

Some told Hagan about difficulties they encountered in finding work as they move from place to place with their spouses.

Lawyers need a new license when they move to a new state, for example.

One woman said private and government offices in another state told her they refused to hire military spouses because they won't stay with the job very long before they have to move again.

They discussed programs that some schools have done to help their children.

Several said they are grateful to Hagan for making this visit.

"I have a lot of respect for everything the senator has done, and especially the support of military families," said Elena Roberts, a lawyer who previously served in the Air Force. "I came here to advocate on behalf of military families with special needs kids and military families as a whole."

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