Press Releases

Today, Congressman Steve Womack sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta with questions regarding the Air Force’s decision to do away with the A-10 mission at the 188^th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith.

In his letter, Congressman Womack addresses “serious concerns” over the way the Air Force reached its current decision on A-10 cuts. Congressman Womack believes the 188^th—with regards to cost efficiency and overall performance—should  be left off of the chopping block, a message he strongly conveys in this letter to Secretary Panetta.

The following is an excerpt from the letter:

    “I have serious concerns about the Air Force plan as currently written.  As an example, any decision purposed in closing the 188^th Fighter Wing is suspect.  When reviewed in the context of objective criteria – airspace availability, distance to bombing range, cost per training hour, cost per flight hour, and cost of living – it does not appear that the decision was made on these cost efficiencies and performance.  The 188^th outperforms in all major objective categories, and it is one of the most cost-effective flying units in the Air Force….There is little argument that the reserve components provide the best value to the Department of Defense.  The excessive nature of these cuts to the Air National Guard – not just the 188^th Fighter Wing – doesn’t make sense.”

###