C-130 News: Fort Bragg's 440th Airlift Wing gets reprieve

[casey]

The 440th Airlift Wing will live on, at least for another year.

Air Force Reserve Command has pushed back the inactivation of the unit until at least fall 2016.

The 440th had been slated to be inactivated in September, the latest in a series of end dates that have been proposed since the unit was marked for inactivation in March 2014.

The latest delay was announced by Col. Karl Schmitkons, commander of the 440th, in a July edition of the unit's newsletter, Combat Airlifter.

In the newsletter, Schmitkons says the reduction in force that was set for Sept. 30 was canceled, along with a planned clearing house for the unit's civilian employees and Air Reserve technicians.

The decision also means an automatic transfer of the unit's traditional Reservists has been canceled.

Schmitkons said the Air Force Reserve's plan of record remains the inactivation of the 440th Airlift Wing, which flies C-130 aircraft in support of Fort Bragg training.

But with that inactivation being pushed back, leaders approved an extension of the unit's life, with a new target date for inactivation of Sept. 30, 2016, the 440th commander said.

Col. Robert Palmer, spokesman for Air Force Reserve Command, said the decision to delay the inactivation came about because of pending legislation that is part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. Renee Ellmers have amendments in the Senate and House versions of the bill that would delay the 440th inactivation.

In the Senate version of the bill, Tillis' amendment would require the 18th Airborne Corps, 82nd Airborne Division and U.S. Army Special Operations Command to certify that the loss of the 440th would not harm training at the nation's largest military installation before the unit would be permitted to be deactivated.

In the House version, an amendment sponsored by Ellmers would require the secretary of defense to personally certify that deactivation of the wing would not affect military readiness.

A separate amendment by Tillis also would force the Air Force to move modernized C-130 aircraft to Fort Bragg for use by local units by September 2017.

The aircraft, upgraded through the Avionics Modernization Program, would otherwise not be used, officials said.

The Air Force would be required to provide the personnel needed to maintain and operate the planes, which would be the same model as those flown by the 440th but with updated equipment.

That amendment doesn't prevent the 440th from being closed, but it would create a replacement unit to which local airmen could possibly transfer.

Robert Wilkie, senior policy advisor for Tillis, said the delay was a sign the Air Force is "starting to see the writing on the wall."

"The fate of the 440th is not simply an Air Force budget issue, it is a national security issue, Wilkie said. "Its recent announcement to keep the 440th Air Lift Wing open for another year is the result of Senator Tillis' unwavering stance on retaining the C-130Hs at the wing."

But Air Force leaders said the delay was not permanent.

Palmer said the additional requirements created by the NDAA would mean the Air Force would need more time before it could inactivate the 440th.

"Knowing what congressional intent is, we are going to maintain the C-130 capabilities at Pope," Palmer said. "We are holding off on taking any further action."

Palmer said it was too early to know for sure if the 440th would be inactivated next year.

He said traditional reservists are still able to leave the unit.

Schmitkons, addressing those reservists, said airmen would be allowed to leave if they felt it in their best interests given the uncertain nature of the unit.

"If you find that dream job, I encourage you to pursue it, just as I would regardless of the wing's future," he said.

Schmitkons said the unit would not use its possible inactivation as an excuse to not execute its mission and training.

To do so, he said, airmen would have to take on additional duties.

"If you have background experience in an area you know is undermanned, please consider stepping forward and seeing what you can do to help," Schmitkons said.

On Monday, many local leaders behind an effort to save the 440th applauded the delay, calling it a victory.

Mike Moose, a member of the Save the 440th Coalition and the president of the Reserve Officers Association of North Carolina, said the extension of life for the 440th was "definitely a step in the right direction."

Moose, a retired Army officer, said he was hopeful that new Air Force leadership may change their minds on the 440th and realize how important it is to keep planes on Fort Bragg.

"You have to look at logic here, and the logic is keeping C-130s at Pope Field," he said.

Air Force leaders have said the decision to inactivate the 440th was driven by budget concerns. In documents, they have argued that outside air crews could serve Fort Bragg's airborne units.

But local officials have said the numbers don't add up, and that keeping the 440th was in the best interest of national security.

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