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BRAC affects Air Force reservists in 22 states

  • Published
  • By AFRC News Service
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  If put into law, Air Force Reserve Command will close three installations and move people from a dozen locations to two dozen sites throughout the United States.

Although command officials anticipate keeping roughly the same troop level authorizations, AFRC will expand some existing missions such as air operations center, space, unmanned aerial vehicle and associate-unit flying.

These and other changes are among those recommended by the Department of Defense to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. DOD announced the recommendations May 13.

The BRAC process is simple, DOD officials said. The military services and joint cross-service groups develop closure and realignment recommendations. Military value is the primary consideration.

Also, the law mandates that department officials use a 20-year force-structure plan in forming their recommendations.

The services examine each base’s “service-unique” function. In a difference this year, cross-service groups analyze functions that cross service lines. For example, all services have warehouses. So a joint group analyzes warehouse functions for all the services.

Cross-service groups examined seven functional areas: educational and training, headquarters and support activities, industrial, intelligence, medical, supply and storage, and technical.

The commission is holding hearings and examining the recommendations, a process that runs through September. The commission sends an “all-or-nothing list” to the president, meaning the president can approve all of the closures and realignments on the list or disapprove the entire list. If he approves, the list goes to Congress.

The House and Senate have 45 “legislative days” to disapprove the list. If they do nothing, the list automatically is approved and has the “force and effect of law,” officials said.

The following are some of the recommended changes affecting Air Force Reserve Command. These suggestions do not include possible assignment changes for individual mobilization augmentees as a result of changes in the active force.

Barksdale AFB, La. -- Air Force Reserve Command’s 917th Wing receives three A-10s from the active force’s 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska, and six A-10s from AFRC’s 926th FW, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Air Reserve Station, La. This consolidation is part of a larger effort to base A-10s at fewer installations. Additionally, the Barksdale A-10 unit provides close air support to the U.S. Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., one of the nation’s premier joint training facilities.

Beale AFB, Calif. -- AFRC’s 940th Air Refueling Wing transfers four KC-135R’s to the Air National Guard’s 127th Wing, Selfridge ANG Base, Mich., and four KC-135R’s to the ANG’s 134th ARW, McGhee-Tyson Airport Air Guard Station, Tenn. Beale’s expeditionary combat support elements remain in place. These moves enable Beale AFB to focus on manned and unmanned high altitude reconnaissance, a single operational flying mission. In addition, this move balances the Reserve and Air National Guard KC-135 force structure and retains reserve component manpower and experience for Beale’s new Global Hawk mission.

Buckley AFB, Colo. -- This Air Force Space Command base receives 30 full-time and 277 traditional reservist authorizations from the realignment of AFRC’s 926th Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Air Reserve Station, La. The move better supports Reserve missions. The Air Reserve Personnel Center’s processing function at Buckley annex moves to Randolph AFB, Texas, to consolidate with the Air Force Personnel Center and improve management of reserve forces.

Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. -- AFRC’s 94th Airlift Wing gains four C-130H2s from AFRC’s 440th AW, Gen. Mitchell International Airport Air Reserve Station, Wis. The move is part of a larger effort to create more effectively sized squadrons throughout the Air Force.

Eglin AFB, Fla. -- This Air Force Materiel Command base receives 97 full-time and 723 traditional reservist authorizations from AFRC’s 913th Airlift Wing, Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa., and AFRC’s 92nd Aerial Port Squadron, Wyoming City, Pa., to form an AFRC wing in support of an emerging mission.

General Mitchell International Airport Air Reserve Station, Wis. -- The AFRC installation closes. AFRC’s 440th Airlift Wing transfers four C-130H2s to AFRC’s 94th AW, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., and four C-130H2s to the active force’s 314th AW, Little Rock AFB, Ark. Two hundred thirty full-time and 1,164 traditional reservist manpower authorizations move to Pope AFB/Fort Bragg, N.C., to form an AFRC unit-equipped C-130 unit. These moves are part of a larger effort throughout the Air Force to create squadrons of more effective size and to adjust the balance of C-130s among active and reserve components. The Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling Wing at General Mitchell Air Guard Station is not affected by actions at General Mitchell ARS.

Hill AFB, Utah -- AFRC’s 419th Fighter Wing becomes an associate wing and partners with the active force’s 388th FW at Hill AFB. The Reserve wing transfers nine F-16C’s to AFRC’s 301st FW, at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Carswell Air Reserve Station, Texas, and six F-16C’s to AFRC’s 482nd FW, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. The 301st FW’s F-110 engine intermediate maintenance function at Carswell ARS moves to a centralized intermediate repair facility at Hill AFB. These actions are part of a larger effort to consolidate the F-16 fleet.

Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. -- AFRC’s 482nd Fighter Wing gains six F-16C’s from AFRC’s 419th FW, Hill AFB, Utah, and three F-16C’s from the Air National Guard’s 192nd FW, Richmond International Airport Air Guard Station, Va. The moves are part of an effort to base more fighter aircraft together.

Lackland AFB, Texas -- The civil engineering squadron from AFRC’s 914th Airlift Wing, Niagara Falls International Airport Air Reserve Station, N.Y., and AFRC’s 710th Intelligence Squadron, Brooks City-Base, Texas, move to Lackland AFB. These moves are the result of closing Niagara Falls IAP ARS and moving Air Force agencies from a leased facility in San Antonio to a military base.

Langley AFB, Va. -- AFRC transfers 30 full-time and 60 traditional reservist slots to Langley AFB to support a command and control mission. The manpower authorizations are from the wing headquarters element of AFRC’s 914th Airlift Wing, Niagara Falls International Airport Air Reserve Station, N.Y. The action is the result of closing Niagara Falls IAP ARS.

Luke AFB, Ariz. -- AFRC’s 944th Fighter Wing retires 15 F-16C’s and goes from a partially unit-equipped wing to a totally associate wing with the active force’s 56th FW. The Reserve wing continues its mission as a fighter training unit at Luke AFB.

MacDill Air Force Base -- AFRC’s 927th Air Refueling Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., realigns to form a KC-135 associate unit relationship at MacDill AFB with the active force’s 6th ARW. Two hundred twenty-eight full-time and 933 traditional reservist authorizations transfer to Florida from the 927th ARW’s headquarters staff and flying, maintenance and expeditionary combat support forces. This action provides a mix of active and reserve component experience at MacDill AFB. In addition, the 6th ARW bolsters its fleet with four KC-135R aircraft as a result of realignments at Grand Forks AFB, N.D.

March Air Reserve Base, Calif. -- AFRC’s 452nd Air Mobility Wing gains four KC-135R aircraft in place from the Air National Guard’s 163rdAir Refueling Wing. This action is part of a larger effort to robust the size of reserve component KC-135 units.

Maxwell AFB, Ala. -- AFRC’s 908th Airlift Wing gains four C-130H2s and 120 traditional reservist authorizations from the Air National Guard’s 179th AW at Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport, Ohio. The move is part of a larger effort to create more effectively sized squadrons throughout the Air Force.

McChord AFB, Wash. -- AFRC’s 304th Rescue Squadron, Portland International Airport, Ore., moves to McChord AFB to permit the squadron to continue training since the AFRC flying mission ends at Portland.

Moody AFB, Ga. -- Air Education and Training Command moves 46 T-6 and 67 T-38 aircraft to other AETC bases. As a result, AFRC associate unit instructor pilots in specialized undergraduate pilot training and introduction to fighter fundamentals training move from Moody AFB to other locations. The other locations are Columbus AFB, Miss.; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Okla.; Randolph AFB, Texas; and Sheppard AFB, Texas.

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Carswell Air Reserve Station, Texas -- AFRC’s 301st Fighter Wing gains nine F-16C’s from AFRC’s 419th FW, Hill AFB, Utah. The move is part of an effort to consolidate F-16 units. The 301st FW’s F-110 engine intermediate maintenance function at Carswell ARS moves to a centralized intermediate repair facility at Hill AFB.

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La. -- AFRC’s 926th Fighter Wing sends nine of its A-10 aircraft to AFRC’s 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, Mo., and six A-10s to AFRC’s 917th Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. The moves permit more optimally sizes squadrons at Barksdale AFB and Whiteman AFB. In addition, 30 full-time and 277 traditional reservist slots from the 926th FW’s expeditionary combat support force and medical squadron transfer to Buckley AFB, Colo. Another 30 full-time and 60 traditional reservist authorizations from the 926th FW headquarters staff go to Nellis AFB, Nev., to help man an air warfare center associate wing. These manpower moves better support air reserve missions at Nellis AFB and Buckley AFB.

Nellis AFB, Nev. -- Thirty full-time and 60 traditional reservist authorizations from AFRC’s 926th Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Air Reserve Station, La., help form an air warfare center associate wing. This manpower move supports emerging air reserve missions at Nellis AFB.

Niagara Falls International Airport Air Reserve Station, N.Y. -- The installation closes. AFRC’s 914th Airlift Wing transfers its eight C-130H3 aircraft to robust the active force’s 314th AW, Little Rock AFB, Ark. Eighty-five full-time and 259 traditional reservist positions from the 914th AW’s expeditionary combat support go to AFRC’s 310th Space Group at Schriever AFB, Colo., to bolster its role in the space program and provide manpower to form a space wing. Two full-time and 89 traditional reservist positions from the 914th AW’s civil engineering squadron move to Lackland AFB, Texas. Thirty full-time and 60 traditional reservist authorizations from the 914th AW headquarters staff transfer to Langley AFB, Va., to support a command and control mission.

Offutt AFB, Neb. -- One hundred fourteen full-time and 590 traditional reservist positions from the headquarters staff and expeditionary combat support of AFRC’s 911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa., transfer to Offutt AFB to form a new wing for an emerging mission.

Peterson AFB, Colo. -- AFRC’s 302nd Airlift Wing gains four C-130H3 aircraft from the active force’s 317th Airlift Group, Dyess AFB, Texas. The active force creates an active associate C-130 unit to train with the 302nd AW. This action gives the active force an opportunity to work with experienced reservists.

Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa. -- The installation closes. AFRC’s 911th Airlift Wing transfers eight C-130H2 aircraft to Pope AFB/Fort Bragg, N.C., to form a unit-equipped Reserve C-130 unit along with an active associate unit. This action is part of the effort to consolidate aircraft locations. The 911th AW’s aeromedical unit relocates eight full-time and 210 traditional reservist slots to AFRC’s 910th AW, Youngstown ARS, Ohio, because of the flying mission and proximity to a large recruiting population. One hundred fourteen full-time and 590 traditional reservist manpower authorizations from the Pennsylvania unit transfer to Offutt AFB, Neb., to form a new Reserve wing.

Pope AFB/Fort Bragg, N.C. -- AFRC’s 440th AW, Gen. Mitchell International Airport Air Reserve Station, Wis., transfers 100 full-time and 753 traditional reservist authorizations to form part of a new AFRC wing and 130 full-time and 411 traditional reservist authorizations for AFRC C-130 operations and maintenance. AFRC’s 911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa., transfers eight C-130H2s and the Air National Guard’s 130th AW, Yeager Air Guard Station, W. Va., transfers eight C-130H2s to Pope AFB/Fort Bragg to equip the AFRC airlift wing. The active force establishes an active associate C-130 unit to give Airmen an opportunity to work with experienced reservists.

Portland International Airport, Ore. -- Seventy-five full-time and 437 traditional reservist authorizations from AFRC’s 939th Air Refueling Wing move to Vandenberg AFB, Calif., to support the Reserve’s growing space program. The 939th ARW transfers four KC-135R’s to AFRC’s 507th ARW, Tinker AFB, Okla., and four KC-135R’s to the Air National Guard’s 190th ARW, Forbes Field Air Guard Station, Kan., as part of KC-135 unit consolidation. Portland’s 304th Rescue Squadron moves to McChord AFB, Wash., to permit the AFRC squadron to continue training since the Reserve flying mission ends at Portland.

Randolph AFB, Texas -- The Air Reserve Personnel Center’s processing function at Buckley AFB annex in Colorado moves to Randolph AFB to consolidate with the Air Force Personnel Center and improve management of reserve forces. AFRC’s Reserve Recruiting Service moves from Robins AFB, Ga., to Randolph AFB as part of the consolidation/collocation of active-duty and reserve personnel and recruiting centers for the Air Force, Army and Navy.

Robins AFB, Ga. -- AFRC’s Reserve Recruiting Service moves to Randolph AFB, Texas, as part of the consolidation/collocation of active-duty and reserve personnel and recruiting centers for Air Force, Army and Navy. Administrative control of the Individual Mobilization Augmentee Program moves from the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver to Robins AFB to improve command management of forces assigned to AFRC.

Schriever AFB, Colo. -- AFRC’s 914th Airlift Wing at Niagara Falls International Airport Air Reserve Station, N.Y., transfers 85 full-time and 259 traditional reservist authorizations to AFRC’s 310th Space Group. This action supports the command’s expanding space program and provides the manpower to robust the group to a space wing.

Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. -- Seventy-five full-time and 499 traditional reservist authorizations from AFRC’s 927th Air Refueling Wing transfer to MacDill AFB, Fla., to establish an associate unit with the active force’s 6th ARW. Another 153 full-time and 434 traditional reservist slots at Selfridge ANGB go to MacDill AFB as a result. This action provides a mix of active and reserve component experience in the Tampa, Fla., area. The 927th ARW turns over eight KC-135s to the Air National Guard’s 127th ARW at Selfridge ANGB in a move to consolidate aircraft at one location.

Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. -- AFRC’s 916th Air Refueling Wing receives eight KC-135R’s from the active force’s 319th AW, Grand Forks AFB, N.D. This move doubles the number of tanker aircraft at Seymour Johnson AFB. The active force establishes an active associate unit at Seymour Johnson AFB to work with AFRC’s unit-equipped flying wing.

Tinker AFB, Okla. -- AFRC’s 507th Air Refueling Wing increases its number of KC-135R aircraft by gaining four KC-135s from AFRC’s 939th ARW, Portland International Airport, Ore. The Air National Guard forms an associate unit to partner with AFRC’s 507th ARW.

Vandenberg AFB, Calif. -- AFRC’s 939th Air Refueling Wing, Portland International Airport, Ore., transfers 75 full-time and 437 traditional reservist authorizations to Vandenberg AFB to support the command’s space associate mission.

Whiteman AFB, Mo. -- AFRC’s 442nd Fighter Wing receives nine A-10s from AFRC’s 926th FW, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Air Reserve Station, La. This move brings the Whiteman AFB unit to optimal size and is part of a larger effort to consolidate the A-10 fleet.

Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, PA. -- Naval Air Station Willow Grove closes resulting in the realignment of AFRC’s 913th Airlift Wing. The Reserve wing retires its eight C-130E aircraft as part of the Air Force’s modernization and consolidation of C-130 aircraft. The 913th AW transfers 94 full-time and 585 traditional reservist authorizations to Eglin AFB, Fla., to form part of a new AFRC wing.

Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio -- AFRC’s 910th Airlift Wing gains eight full-time and 210 traditional reservist authorizations when AFRC’s 911th AW aeromedical evacuation unit relocates from Pittsburgh International Airport ARS, Pa. The move permits the aeromedical evacuation unit to continue its flying mission and offers proximity to a large recruiting population.