For Release: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

126th REFUELING WING TO GET “ACTIVE-ASSOCIATE” STATUS; SCOTT WILL ADD UP TO 150 JOBS

Washington - Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today applauded the announcement by the Air Force that the 126th Air Refueling Wing will become an “Active-Associate” unit as part of its Total Force Initiative. This means that active duty air crew and mechanics will be able to fly and work on Guard planes, and that Scott will receive between 125-150 new active duty personnel.

Costello has been working on achieving this status in conjunction with new tanker aircraft that the Air Force is pursuing. The 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott, a Reserve unit, is currently an Active-Associate with the 375th Airlift Wing. Scott is unique in the fact that it is home to active duty, Reserve and Guard units. The new personnel will arrive this summer.

“This is another example of how we are working to make sure that Scott is in the best position possible to take on new missions,” said Costello. “The 126th Air Refueling Wing is a critical part of supporting the transportation needs of our military, and this new status will allow it to further these contributions. It is good news for our national defense structure, good for Scott and good for our region.”

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