Michigan Congressional Delegation Shows Strong Support for Selfridge ANGB to Host F-35 Mission

WASHINGTON, DC – Members of the Michigan Congressional delegation today sent a bipartisan letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force in support of Selfridge Air National Guard Base hosting the Air National Guard’s new F-35 mission. Selfridge, in Harrison Township, is among five National Guard bases that are candidates to host the F-35. The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, and U.S. Representatives Paul Mitchell (MI-10), Fred Upton (MI-6), John Conyers (MI-13), Sander Levin (MI-9), Tim Walberg (MI-7), Bill Huizenga (MI-2), Dan Kildee (MI-5), Mike Bishop (MI-8), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), John Moolenaar (MI-4), Dave Trott (MI-11) and Jack Bergman (MI-1). 

“The future F-35 mission has the support of not only the Michigan Congressional Delegation, but also State and local leadership. The citizens living around Selfridge ANGB have hosted military airfield operations for 100 years and look forward to welcoming future active duty Airmen and their families when an active association for the F-35 is established,” wrote the Senators and Representatives. “The 110th Wing and 127th Wing of the Michigan Air Guard have overcome many challenges and changes in mission, but are now on paths to become the most advanced Wings in the country. A decision to beddown the F-35A at Selfridge will complete the transformation and modernization of these vital national assets.”

The full text of the letter is below and online by clicking here.

July 25, 2017

The Honorable Heather Wilson

Secretary of the Air Force

1670 Air Force Pentagon

Washington, DC 20330-1670

Dear Secretary Wilson:

It is our understanding that the Air Force intends to eventually retire three squadrons of the A-10 Thunderbolt II as their wings run out of service life and replace them with two squadrons of the F-35 Lightning II. The 127^th Wing at Selfridge ANGB currently hosts an A-10 squadron and is under consideration in the strategic basing process for the 5^th and 6^th operational locations for the F-35A. We strongly urge the Air Force to select the 127^th Wing based on the fiscal, operational and programmatic needs of the Air Force and the military judgment of its experienced senior leadership.

Earlier this month a site survey team visited Selfridge ANGB to see firsthand that the former F-16 base is perfectly suited to serve as the next Air National Guard F-35A operations base. We believe the strategic basing process will show that Selfridge’s outstanding Airmen, modern facilities, unique training range and low cost of conversion with no risk to the mission make the 127^th Wing the best choice for bedding down the F-35A. The site survey team will identify core advantages of the 127^th Wing:

Personnel – As the recipients of the 2015 Spaatz Trophy as the best flying organization in the Air National Guard, the women and men have proven their mettle in combat, under the inspection microscope, and all around the world every day. They were also awarded the Meritorious Unit Award – only the 3rd ANG Wing in history to be recognized as such for “outstanding devotion & exceptional performance.” The 127th Wing citizen Airmen have the proven skills, determination, and tenacity to succeed at any mission.

Facilities – Selfridge has the ability to immediately, with very small modifications, beddown the F-35A.   Selfridge is the only base under consideration that could house every one of the planned F-35As inside environmentally controlled hangars. The base’s large modern operations facilities provide robust and resilient infrastructure to provide maintenance, operations, and security for unsurpassed readiness.

Training – Selfridge supports 100% of the Air Force’s Ready Aircrew Program Requirements for the F-35A. Michigan hosts the largest contiguous joint service range/airspace complex east of the Mississippi River, including supersonic airspace, unique littoral topography, a vast overland joint fires range with all-altitude ordnance capability to an over water/over land live fire range with moving targets and mobile advanced electronic joint threat emitters. These locations provide tremendous opportunities for development of F-35 close air support tactics and joint training with allies.  Every year the Michigan National Guard hosts Operation Northern Strike bringing together over 5,000 Army, Air Force, Marines, and Special Forces from over 20 states and allies for a joint exercise. This is the only accredited reserve component joint training in the United States.

In addition, the 127th Wing concurrently operates the KC-135 Stratotanker in the global mobility mission – offering unparalleled synergy of training, efficiency, and mobility opportunities/operations. About 150 miles to the west, the 110^th Attack Wing at W.K. Kellogg ANGB in Battle Creek operates the MQ-9 mission and will have a new cybersecurity mission go operational in 2018.  Both missions will assist future F-35A training with manned and unmanned teaming.

Cost – There are no “double conversions” associated with selecting the 127^th Wing.  The cost of conversion is minimal allowing the retirement of an A-10 squadron by 2023. In fact, the modification of the facilities to ensure full F-35A compatibility is expected to cost approximately $10 million with little or no increased personnel costs.

The future F-35 mission has the support of not only the Michigan Congressional Delegation, but also State and local leadership. The citizens living around Selfridge ANGB have hosted military airfield operations for 100 years and look forward to welcoming future active duty Airmen and their families when an active association for the F-35 is established.

We are very proud of the men and women serving in the Michigan National Guard.  Over the past decade, the State of Michigan absorbed 25% of the cuts to personnel in the Air Guard. The 110^th Wing and 127^th Wing of the Michigan Air Guard have overcome many challenges and changes in mission, but are now on paths to become the most advanced Wings in the country. A decision to beddown the F-35A at Selfridge will complete the transformation and modernization of these vital national assets.