At the same time, members of the United States Air Force were quietly being told to make a wish list for the use of “fall out” monies, the USAF warned in a press release dated February 27, 2015, that its fearless leaders would be “requesting another round of Defense Base Realignments and Closures.”
For the record, “fall out” monies, are those hundreds-of-millions of dollars that are left over at the end of the fiscal year. From May through September of each year, Air Force bases are given an amount of “fall out” that ‘they must spend quickly or it is taken back,” according to FederalSoup.com. “This is where thousands of dollars of supplies and various other items, both necessary and not so necessary, are purchased.”
Base Realignments and Closures, otherwise known as BRACs are devastating to the communities in which they occur. According to the Department of Defense, BRAC “is the congressionally authorized process DoD has used to reorganize its base structure to more efficiently and effectively support our forces, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business.”
The placement of the A-10 on Back Up Aircraft Inventory (BAI) status represent a more efficient and effective way to “support our forces,” or “increase operational readiness.” In fact, it shows that the USAF is committed to the old way of doing business.
On September 30, 2014, the United State Air Force was required to submit audit ready DoD budgetary financial statements. They missed the deadline. June 30, 2016, is the Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness (FIAR) audit readiness goal. (Read here.) At that time, the USAF will reveal the “existence and completeness of mission critical assets.” Read Financial Integrity Audit Review (FIAR) Update for Acquisition here.
The USAF is making critical decisions without a full understanding of the “existence and completeness of mission critical assets.”
For the troops on the ground and people in places like Tucson, Arizona the USAF’s ignorance can be fatal.
In October of 2013, A-10 pilot Tom “Chuck” Norris, called on community leaders to “be engaged all the way until the end.” Chuck appeared on the James T. Harris radio show in response to the apparent apathy by Tucson politicians to save the plane and its Tucson home, Davis Monthan Air Force Base.
Time has elapsed; new force maps have been published showing no new missions for Davis Monthan, and other than the efforts by former Congressman Ron Barber, and the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance, nothing has been done to save Davis Monthan. In fact, those who have been trying to sound the clarion call have been vilified and attacked by those who claim to be “in the know.”
During her tenure, Arizona’s Governor did little to save bases along the southern border. Other than a few trips by emissaries to the Hill, Governor Brewer allowed the Military Installation Fund, which holds money to buy land to protect the interests of bases housed within the state’s border, to be used as a slush fund. Monies were used to buy cronies’ otherwise less-than-valuable land.
In 2014, it became evident that the new likely governor, Doug Ducey, could be as clueless as Brewer. He was getting his advice from former failed State Senator Frank Antenori, who claimed to be one of those in the know. Antenori, a carpet bagger from Pennsylvania, penned polemic lashing out at the “emotional argument for saving the A-10.” He ridiculed those who said saving the A-10 is a must in order to save Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Norris, an Arizona native, responded, “As of now, there is not a plan for an immediate replacement mission for DM. Should the Air Force succeed in their current plan, the Tucson metropolitan area will see tremendous job loss. The base will be at grave risk of closure without an adequate mission to protect it from closure.”
As Norris noted at the time, “Unfortunately other than the efforts made by A-10 supporters, few from Tucson have been in DC lobbying to point out the amazing growth potential of the base and the nearby National Treasure called the Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex.”
Antenori claimed that the “writing is on the wall for the venerable A-10. Make no mistake; the A-10 will be mothballed.” While Antenori, who works for Raytheon, might count on the USAF to do business as unusual, New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte is trying to change things.
Last week, she and seven other senators wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in opposition to the Air Force’s plan to place 18 A-10s on BAI status. She called the move a “back-door” divestment.
Antenori claimed that if Arizonans raised a ruckus about the A-10 the USAF would retaliate. However, Ayotte’s ruckus not earned retaliation. New Hampshire’s Pease ANGB is getting the KC-46, Boeing’s new refueling tanker. Ayotte’s work has helped nudge the Air Force’s spending into the sunlight, and has resulted in bringing much needed attention to the need for the Close Air Support provided by the A-10.
Not one Arizona senator or representative signed her letter, or penned their own. According to sources, the USAF may interpret the failure of House members to act as a sign that they have been given a pass.
As Mike Fredenburg notes in his article for the National Review, “For now, the Air Force’s efforts to scrap the A-10 have been blocked, but the battle is far from over. Charlie Keebaugh, president of the largest group of tactical-air-control party airmen, says the Air Force’s zeal to kill the A-10 “causes the [close-air-support] community to question if the folks in D.C. truly understand the challenges of the modern battlefield.”
Barber says he will continue to fight to save Davis Monthan. It is time, for leaders to join him. It is time for Arizona’s leaders to step up and fight to save both the A-10 and Davis Monthan, even if it is based on strictly financial self-interest. After all, the USAF is acting only in their financial self-interest.
Quick Facts:
D-M and military retirees circulated approximately $1.6 billion and generated more than 4,680 jobs in the local area, according to D-M’s Fiscal Year 2012 Economic Impact Analysis.
The combined payroll of civilian and military personnel totaled more than $643 million in Fiscal Year 2012.
In fiscal year 2012, there were 10,869 personnel assigned and employed at D-M, including 7,537 military service members, 1,604 appropriated fund civilians, and 1,728 non-appropriated fund civilians and contractors.
The base operates and maintains 519 buildings, encompassing 4,409,801 square feet of space. D-M’s footprint includes 6,011 acres of government-owned land and 4,578 acres of easement, rights-of-way and leased land, totaling 10,589 acres.
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D-M, military retirees have $1.6 billion impact on community