This is pretty good news, from the Usual USAF Source...
It's "good news" because USAF is pushing for another BRAC round in 2017 or earlier. I really don't think Cannon would be on the chopping block again, not with all the investment in new infrastructure that's taken place since AFSOC moved in. Ya never know, though... I've seen the military do a LOT o' stupid stuff.Give Me Liberty, Give Me Javaman—Arie Church
Air Force Special Operations Command—not the Army—will take over the bulk of the MC-12 Liberty intelligence gathering fleet, AFSOC spokeswoman Lt. Col. Kristi Beckman told the Daily Report. The 51-strong MC-12W fleet is currently divided between Air Combat Command, which operates 41 aircraft, and US Special Operations Command, which operates 10 airframes—dubbed "Javaman," Beckman said. The Fiscal 2014 defense authorization called on the Air Force to draft a plan to "potentially transfer" its MC-12s to the Army. The plan now is for the Army to get eight airframes. USSOCOM will take the rest of the Liberty fleet, as well as its Javamen, and pass them on to AFSOC. "AFSOC will get those 33, plus an additional 10 MC-12s from USSOCOM that they currently own," explained Beckman. "That's a total of 43 aircraft for AFSOC," she said. The bulk of those aircraft will be assigned to Active Duty units at Cannon AFB, N.M., and Hurlburt Field, Fla., replacing the U-28A special operations surveillance aircraft. A total of 13 will be assigned to the Air National Guard to create a new special operations mission at Will Rogers ANGB, Okla. "We will begin about a three-year transition to the MC-12 in FY '15 starting with the ANG Wing and finishing with the Active Duty units," said Beckman.
The military? Do stupid stuff? Seriously? (/snark)
ReplyDeleteMilitary Intelligence?
DeleteHeh, to both.
DeleteRemember that one of the best (worst?) indications of a coming base closure is the building of a new commissary. A guarantee it will close is a new base hospital.
ReplyDeleteHeh. Too, true... unfortunately. But Cannon's commissary is about six years old or so, and the base hospital was downsized to a clinic, which is still in the old hospital building, but it's a clinic.
DeleteMalmstrom AFB in the Nineties....................All new hangars and other maintenance, support and personnel facilities totaling something like $190 million for the 43rd ARW.............then they moved said ARW to Hurlburt Field, Florida........................The Retired RADM that was running the BRAC was not received very well in Great Falls for the meeting at the Civic Center prior to the decision. Open car and people were tossing things at his car...........................
ReplyDeleteHe was interviewed by Dick Pampa of KFBB and voiced his displeasure at the reception..............Pampa related to him that this was still the Old West.....................................
Here at Edwards the Barracks for the Med Group was leveled last year..........It was right next to the Clinic.
In other planning, the chase squadron and the one I work in support of are to be merged.............Which has been done twice before and failed miserably...................
Makes the Old Retired Petty Officer go Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Yup... we've all seen stupid shit.
Delete