Tuesday, December 22, 2015
In the overall scheme of things, the $9.4 million for a new indoor firing range at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station isn’t a headline grabber nor a game changer. But, viewed in the context of the future of the singularly important Air Force base in Vienna Township, it is one more building block.
At a time when this nation’s military is being redefined, with cost-cutting the guiding principle, having continued investment of federal dollars in the base bodes well for the future.
The $9.4 million allocation is contained in the $1.8 trillion federal budget passed by Congress last week and signed into law by President Barack Obama.
In addition to funneling money to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, the federal budget also has $3.3 million to upgrade the firing range at the Ravenna Joint Military Training Center.
It is noteworthy that both projects had the support of Democratic and Republican members of Congress from the region. Reps. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th; Bill Johnson of Marietta, R-6th; and David Joyce of Russell Township, R-4th; and Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown, Democrat; and Rob Portman, Republican, were unwavering in their support for the military installations, which is important given the political realities of military spending.
“This money gives our airmen and soldiers the resources and training facilities they need to remain combat-ready and complete their missions,” Ryan said. “I am proud to have supported our men and women in uniform and will continue to work to ensure these vital funds get to YARS and Camp Ravenna.”
The federal budget also allocates $10 million for the Youngstown-Dayton Military Additive Manufacturing Initiative and about $5 million for local reservoirs, said Ryan, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
The money for the additive initiative will continue a manufacturing- innovation research program based at the Air Force Research Lab at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. The program, which began with an original $10 million secured by Ryan in the fiscal 2015 defense spending bill, equips the Air Force with the technology and expertise to use 3-D printing and other emerging manufacturing techniques to make low-volume replacement parts for weapons systems at a lower cost.
YOUNGSTOWN CONNECTION
The Youngstown connection is natural. America Makes, located downtown, is blazing the additive-manufacturing trail using 3-D printing. It was the first such federally funded initiative in the country and is earning a national and international reputation.
But, it is the funding for the firing range at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station that gives us reason for cautious optimism about the future of one of the most-important cogs in the Mahoning Valley economic wheel.
There are more than 1,500 military and civilian personnel on the payroll, and the base has a $100 million impact on the region’s commerce.
In expressing our appreciation to the members of Congress who have worked tirelessly to maintain the viability of the air base, we do offer this note of caution: With Washington’s push to cut costs, especially with regard to military spending, there is a need for vigilance to ensure the facility’s future.
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber is playing a leading role in bringing together the political, business and community interests that have a stake in what takes place at the massive facility.
We have long advocated the need for the Valley to speak with one voice with regard to the air reserve station. The arguments for maintaining the facility are numerous, foremost of which is that it has a unique role to play in the overall defense strategy of this country.
Thus, we focus on the next phase of the development of the base, namely the upgrading of the fleet of the C-130 aircraft flown by the 910th Airlift Wing. The Marine Corps and Navy reserve units are also stationed at the Vienna Township military installation.
The fleet of airplanes has been diminished somewhat with the relocation of a few C-130s to other bases, but now it’s time to not only secure funding for the new, technologically advanced airplanes but also for restoration of the original number of aircraft.
Make no mistake about it: The future of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station is not etched in stone. Thus, we as a region must keep up the fight to ensure its viability and growth.