Campaign to keep 910th Airlift Wing safe could take off soon

By William K. Alcorn | February 11, 2012 at 12:06a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Ohio’s congressional delegation and local officials are gearing up to promote, and defend if necessary, the Youngstown Air Reserve Station as the next BRAC (Base Closure and Realignment Commission) round looms.

President Barack Obama has called for BRAC sessions in 2013 and 2015, said U.S. Sen. Robert Portman, a Republican from Ohio, who led a meeting of the Ohio congressional delegation Thursday to discuss BRAC strategy.

On the local level, “internal conversations” are being conducted about reviving SOAR — Save Our Airbase Reservists — said Thomas Humphries, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber president.

SOAR is an organization formed during the 2005 BRAC round to develop and implement a strategy to protect YARS in Vienna and its 910th Airlift Wing from reduction or closing.

Though SOAR did not remain active, Humphries said it can be re-established or another organization can be put together for the same purpose.

Similar groups formed in other parts of the country in 2005 to protect their military installations have continued to function, but Humphries said it is not too late to put together a strategy for the upcoming BRAC rounds.

“We’re aware of the issue. There is no sense of urgency, but we’re at the stage where we need to gear up and strategize and identify partners, which I see happening over the next couple of months. The next step after that is to execute the strategy,” Humphries said.

The Ohio congressional delegation met Wednesday, immediately after which Portman said in a conference call that its members had “agreed to coordinate our strategies and work as a team — Sen. Sherrod Brown and I and all House members — on bipartisan basis.”

In an email statement, Brown, a Democrat from Avon, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he is “committed to working with members of the Ohio delegation — Republican and Democratic alike — to fight any cutbacks that will harm the Ohio men and women that serve in our military.”

While the Youngstown Air Reserve Station would receive four new C-130s under the Air Force proposal, Brown said he still is concerned that a reduction in overall number of aircraft could mean job losses for the 910th Airlift Wing and could be detrimental to the country’s military readiness and ability to respond to domestic emergencies.

In an Air Force restructuring proposal, fiscal year 2013 actions include the 910th losing six of its 12 C-130 cargo and troop carrier aircraft and pick up four when the Pittsburgh Air Station is closed, for a net loss of two aircraft for the 910th.

Members of Ohio’s congressional delegation also met this week with the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff to discuss their budget proposals.

While YARS would be saved if the Air Force restructuring proposal is adopted, Portman said the delegation is concerned that with a net reduction of two planes, there would be some personnel loss.

“The 910th is doing a great job and the delegation will continue to make the case strongly for its combat and domestic missions as reasons for its preservation and the preservation of all of Ohio’s military installation,” Portman said.

The delegation agreed to three basic actions:

Work to organize and open communications with local organizations in each of the communities with military facilities.

Review and create an inventory of the military value of Ohio installations.

Coordinate strategies and work as a team.

“It is time to prepare for what I see is inevitable — another BRAC round,” Portman said.