C-130 News: Funding 440th AW set to end in March; but may continue to operate

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Funding for Fort Bragg's 440th Airlift Wing budget is slated to end in March, but that doesn't mean the unit will inactivate anytime soon, officials said.

In an email sent to 440th airmen Sunday night, Brig. Gen. James P. Scanlan said Maj. Gen. Stayce Harris has decided not to extend funding for the unit's budget past March. However, the unit will continue operating normally until directed otherwise by Congress.

"What this means for all of us is that nothing has really changed," Scanlan said in the email.

"Congress has yet to make a decision on the inactivation proposal and we still have a mission to do," he said. "Until Congress makes a final decision, we will continue to fix, fly and support C-130s."

The unit, which has roughly 1,200 airmen, has an estimated $77 million economic impact on the local community.

Air Force officials marked the 440th for inactivation earlier this year as part of a plan that would move the unit's C-130 cargo planes and divert newer-model planes that had been destined to come here for years.

That decision remains in place, despite attempts to fight it by local business leaders and the local congressional delegation.

The Air Force put a hold on all C-130 movement for the foreseeable future, and decisions aren't likely to be made until after the November elections.

Late last week, Harris informed Scanlan that the Air Force Reserve Command would not extend funding for the unit past March 31. That shortened the unit's budget, which was slated to be funded through September, by six months.

On April 1, the unit will continue operating status quo if Congress has not approved the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes the 440th's budget.

Otherwise, the National Defense Authorization Act will either order the unit to continue operations or inactivate.

"We know the inactivation proposal is still on the table, but until we have a final decision from Congress, we will continue to train and we will continue to focus on our No. 1 priority - producing combat-ready Airmen," Scanlan said.

Several attempts to stop the inactivation have faltered in Congress, but U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan has pushed an amendment that would at least delay the decision. That amendment has been approved by a committee but has not been passed as part of a larger defense bill.

In June, Hagan, a Democrat, sent a letter to Air Force officials demanding they halt movement of the aircraft until the amendment is voted on.

If approved, the amendment would restrict the military from moving the C-130s until 60 days after the Air Force submits a detailed report to Congress and that report is reviewed by the Government Accountability Office.

"My amendment requires the Air Force to submit a report for congressional review, which I strongly believe will show that there is no strategic case to be made for inactivating the 440th," Hagan said through a spokeswoman. "I will continue fighting this misguided proposal, which will have an adverse effect on the readiness of the units at Fort Bragg."

The unit currently has airmen from the Security Forces Squadron deployed in the Middle East. The third and most recent wave of those airmen, who volunteered to deploy, left Pope Field on Sept. 27.

If Congress approves the unit's inactivation, those who are deployed, and all other 440th airmen, would receive first shot at open positions in the Air Force Reserve, said Maj. Lisa Ray, unit spokeswoman.

Because they must fulfill contracts, those airmen would have their choice which unit to move to through priority placement or a clearinghouse program, Ray said.

View original article: http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/funding-for-fort-bragg-s-th-airlift-wing-set-to/article_e37a954f-3f81-5dd8-aee7-521a85725e33.html