Letter to Michael Donley, Acting Secretary of the Air Force, and Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Re: New Flying Mission for Springfield 183rd
Letter
Durbin, Obama Continue to Urge New Flying Mission for Springfield 183rd
Noting the success in last week's announcement of a one-year extension for the Springfield 183rd Fighter Wing's firefighter unit, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today urged Acting Secretary Mr. Michael Donley and Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz of the Air Force to quickly identify the new flying mission and, if necessary, a bridge plan that will prevent the loss of expertise that currently resides in the 183rd Fighter Wing.
"The 183rd's Wing and Maintenance Commander has volunteered to provide needed maintenance on the Air National Guard's F-16 fleet, which also allows for a one-year continuation of the firefighting mission at Springfield," wrote the Illinois Senators. "Unfortunately, this is a temporary success. Until and unless the Wing is awarded a new flying mission, the community will again face the loss of the Wing's skilled workers and the firefighting unit that supports the mission."
Last month, Durbin and Obama announced that the National Guard firefighter unit at Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport has been granted a one-year extension through September 2009. The 183rd's Wing and Maintenance Commander has volunteered to provide needed maintenance on the Air National Guard's F-16 fleet, which also allows for a one-year continuation of the firefighting mission at Springfield.
This announcement came in response to an August 19th letter sent by the Illinois Senators to the National Guard Bureau Chief, Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, asking him to work with Air Force leaders to find a new flying mission for the 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield, Illinois and maintain the National Guard firefighter unit at Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.
In their letter, Durbin and Obama once again pointed to the Air Force's recent announcement that new flying missions have been found for other units, such as the 179th Airlift Wing, which is also scheduled to lose its mission as a result of the 2005 BRAC. The 179th is scheduled to receive C-21 planes as a bridge mission - similar to the mission that the senators have been urging - until it receives its permanent planes.
"We are aware that the Air Force has announced new flying missions for other Air National Guard units, such as the 179th Airlift Wing, which was also scheduled to lose its mission as a result of the 2005 BRAC. The 179th is scheduled to receive C-21 planes as a bridge mission until it receives its permanent planes. As you know, we have asked for, and made the case for, a similar bridge mission for the 183rd. Any number of different flying missions could take advantage of the skills of the wing's members."
Text of the letter appears below:
Dear Gen. Schwartz/Donley,
As you know, the Air National Guard 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield, Illinois, is scheduled to lose the last of its F-16 planes by October 1 of this year, after flying missions for 60 years. The community's highest priority is to continue this tradition with a new flying mission. We urge you to work with us and with the 183rd to find a new flying mission in the near future.
The 183rd's Wing and Maintenance Commander has volunteered to provide needed maintenance on the Air National Guard's F-16 fleet, which also allows for a one-year continuation of the firefighting mission at Springfield. The Guard, the local leadership and the community shared a commitment to finding an outcome that would allow the Wing to continue its work and the firefighting unit to remain in Springfield. The National Guard's leadership has been invaluable in reaching this successful outcome.
Unfortunately, this is a temporary success. Until and unless the Wing is awarded a new flying mission, the community will again face the loss of the Wing's skilled workers and the firefighting unit that supports the mission.
We are aware that the Air Force has announced new flying missions for other Air National Guard units, such as the 179th Airlift Wing, which was also scheduled to lose its mission as a result of the 2005 BRAC. The 179th is scheduled to receive C-21 planes as a bridge mission until it receives its permanent planes. As you know, we have asked for, and made the case for, a similar bridge mission for the 183rd. Any number of different flying missions could take advantage of the skills of the Wing's members.
We urge you to quickly identify the new flying mission and, if necessary, a bridge plan that will prevent the loss of expertise that currently resides in the 183rd Fighter Wing. Your leadership in identifying that new flying mission for the 183rd is essential to the future of the unit.
Sincerely,
Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator
Barack Obama
U.S. Senator
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