Air Base Confirms Loss of 4 Aircraft, 200 Positions
VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- The Youngstown Air Reserve Station today announced the reduction of a total of four aircraft by March 31, resulting in the loss of 50 full-time and 150 part-time positions at the air base.
Effective Oct. 1, the beginning of the 2014 fiscal year, two aircraft that had been on loan to the C-130 training facility in Little Rock, Ark., were permanently transferred from the 910th Airlift Wing’s inventory, reducing the number of primary inventory aircraft based at YARS to 10 C-130 Hercules tactical cargo transport aircraft. An additional two aircraft are scheduled to transfer out of the 910th inventory by March 31, bringing its inventory down to eight.
The 200 position reductions will take place through the 2014 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, 2014.
The news release announcing the changes is the official announcement of cuts that have been under discussion for the past 18 months, said Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr., superintendent of pubic affairs for the 910th Airlift Wing.
Col. James Dignan, 910th Airlift Wing commander, said while the air base could not control changes to the Air Force structure, officials would make every effort to keep its personnel informed about what the future could hold for them.
“We will do everything possible to let our citizen airmen and DoD civilians know what changes lie ahead and how they will be affected,” he said. “We will assist in any way we can to make these transitions as painless as possible in these uncertain times.”
Reacting to the news, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13 Ohio, said he is "disappointed the Air Force has decided to move four C-130 planes out of Youngstown and troubled that local jobs will be lost. They have decided to move these planes regardless of the fact that YARS airmen have been doing an outstanding job and the base has the infrastructure to support additional planes and additional military and civilian jobs."
In his statement, Ryan noted he has been a "long-time supporter" of the 910th Airlift Wing and YARS, "not only for its work in defending this nation, but also its contribution to our local economy."
YARS has "a unique capability as the Department of Defense’s only fixed-wing aerial spray unit," he said. "I will continue to advocate for the Department of Defense to make long term investments and increase the manpower at YARS to take full advantage of its capabilities.”
Dignan, the 910th commander, said he would do everything possible to keep people in the Mahoning Valley informed about the air base's mission and capabilities.
“We have a duty to the American people and Congress to keep them informed about how tax dollars are spent here," he said. "We have many assets unique to our installation and we will continue to spread the word about what the 910th and YARS provides to the national defense.”
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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