CHICOPEE — U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal met with the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Tuesday to follow up on the announcement that Westover Air Reserve Base would be downsized, losing half of its 16-jet fleet and 334 positions at the base.
"I had a good conversation with the Secretary of the Air Force today to discuss the future force structure of Westover Air Reserve Base. As dean of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, I invited her to meet with the entire delegation and local, state and federal stakeholders so we can speak with one voice about Westover's importance to the region and the nation. After General Vautrain's announcement yesterday, I thought it was important to contact Secretary (Deborah Lee) James quickly and schedule a meeting to promote and protect the base in Chicopee,” Neal said in a written statement.
Brig. Gen. Steven Vautrain, commander of the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover, Monday confirmed a 2012 Air Force plan to downsize the base would go through.
The confirmation came during a visit last week from the Site Action Task Force from the Air Force Reserve Command and after a study was completed on the mobility and capability requirements of the Air Force.
The plan calls for eight of the base’s C-5B Galaxy jets to be moved to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, in Texas. Those transferred planes will replace some older C-5A jets in Texas that are being retired.
In addition, 59 full-time positions will be cut. A total of 275 part-time Reservist jobs are also being eliminated. Vautrain said he is hoping to be able to avoid layoffs of full-time personnel through retirements and retraining the existing personnel so they can take other vacant positions on the base.
Reservists can also fill vacant positions from retirements or resignations. Some may transfer to other military units in Massachusetts and New England, he said.
But Neal said he does not feel the decision is final since Congress still has to approve the required budget reductions and has the final say on how they are applied.
He did acknowledge that the federal Budget Control Act requires $487 billion to be cut from the defense budget over the next eight years and the reductions are being proposed for bases across the country.
“From my perspective, the Westover announcement was merely a recommendation that has yet to be considered by Congress. I strongly believe the restructuring process remains very fluid. The House and Senate Armed Services Committee will have a significant voice in this debate and so will the entire Congress. I look forward to the delegation meeting with the Air Force Secretary so we can reaffirm our collective support for Westover and all the military bases in Massachusetts," Neal said.
He said he is planning for the meeting with James, the Air Force secretary, and the congressional delegation next month in Washington. Neal said he will also invite a number of other stakeholders in the process including a representative from the state task force that has been working to protect planned cuts from happening at the six different military installations in Massachusetts as well as Chicopee Mayor Richard J. Kos.
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