Chamber hopes Trump talks YARS, Camp Ravenna Tuesday

YOUNGSTOWN — Clues about how the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, YARS, and Camp Ravenna fit into the future of America’s national defense could be revealed Tuesday night during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address, according to the director of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission (EOMAC).

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber created the commission to protect YARS from the next Base Realignment and Closure process, and to seek expanded missions for YARS and the Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center.

Camp Ravenna, Fort Drum in New York and Fort Custer in Michigan are the sites under consideration to house the Eastern site.

Since nuclear tensions between the U.S. and North Korea have escalated recently, officials with EOMAC and the chamber hope the president will provide some details on how the U.S. will increase its defenses.

The timing of Tuesday’s State of the Union is relevant in that the Missile Defense Agency is scheduled to release its Ballistic Missile Defense Review in February, assessing the need for a third site that would contain defense missiles used to intercept a ballistic missile.