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WYDEN: PROPOSED 142ND AIR WING CHANGES
MAKE OREGON VULNERABLE TO ATTACK
Guard officials brief Senator in Portland today
on critical security role
of PDX-based units slated for downsizing by U.S. Department of
Defense
June 3, 2005
Portland, OR – After a
briefing today from officials with the 142nd Air National Guard
Fighter Wing and the Oregon Military Department, U.S. Senator
Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said that proposed changes to the unit pose
a threat to the safety and security of Oregon and the Northwest
region. Wyden had previously expressed strong concerns about Defense
Department recommendations to the Federal Base Realignment and
Closing (BRAC) Commission that would drop 13 alert fighter jets
out of the Portland Air Base, leaving the 142nd with only two
jets at PDX. Today, colonels of the 142nd and the Oregon Military
Department told Wyden if the recommendations are implemented,
fighters would not be available if one large-scale or multiple
and simultaneous attacks occurred in the Northwest. They noted
that the Pentagon’s recommendations would drop the region’s
alert force to pre-9/11 levels. Wyden received today’s briefing
in advance of a scheduled June 17 hearing in Portland of the BRAC
Commission, at which the recommendations will be reviewed. Wyden
said today he will testify in opposition to the proposed realignments.
“This is a world of multiple
threats, and it’s clear today that the Pentagon’s
recommendations will place Oregon and the nation at far greater
risk,” said Wyden. “When the BRAC Commission comes
to Portland they’ll be told in no uncertain terms that military
cost-cutting is not an adequate reason to leave our region vulnerable
to attack.”
“After a thorough analysis
of this proposal, we are very perplexed that this is the outcome
that has been recommended for Portland Air Base. This proposal
does not pass the logic test when it comes to the homeland defense
of the Northwest, and we intend to make those points to the BRAC
Commission and believe that they will recognize the failures in
this proposal,” said Colonel Mike Caldwell, deputy director
of the Oregon Military Department.
On May 13, 2005, the U.S Department
of Defense proposed changes to the Air Guard Station at Portland
International Airport including the realignment of the 142nd Fighter
Wing’s F-15 aircraft to stations in Atlantic City, N.J.
and New Orleans, La.; the Pentagon list says the wing’s
expeditionary combat support elements and two combat communications
squadrons will remain at Portland. Proposed changes to the 939th
Air Refueling Wing include realignment of aircraft and maintenance
personnel to Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and Forbes Field
Air Guard Station in Kansas, with one aircraft sent to backup
inventory.
Remaining personnel of the 939th,
including expeditionary combat support, would be realigned to
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The 304th Rescue Squadron
at Portland would be realigned to McChord Air Force Base in Washington.
Even before the Pentagon’s
recommendations were issued, Wyden and U.S. Senator Gordon Smith
(R-Ore.) lobbied BRAC Chairman Anthony Principi in a May 6 letter
to maintain the current vital roles of Oregon’s military
facilities. In addition to Wyden’s testimony at the June
17 hearing, BRAC officials are scheduled to hear from other public
officials, members of the Oregon Guard and state homeland security
officials.
The BRAC Commission has established
a web page where constituents can give their feedback on the proposed
realignments and closures directly to the Commission. Oregonians
concerned about the base closure and realignment recommendations
can offer their comments at http://www.brac.gov/feedback.aspx.
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