The Air Force announced a series of cutbacks at military bases in 16 states Friday, including numerous changes in North Dakota and South Dakota that will result in a combined loss of about 800 jobs in those two states.
The cutbacks are not related to the list of recommendations to be presented to the White House on Saturday by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. North Dakota is hit relatively hard by the commission's list.The Air Force said its newly announced cutbacks are being made in response to a reduced security threat in the post-Cold War era as well as budget constraints. It said it expects to make a series of additional cutbacks in 1996.
Among the chances are:
At Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., the 99th Wing, which does bomber-crew training, will be closed late this year, resulting in the loss of 222 military and nine civilian positions, the Air Force said.
Also, the B-52 Weapons School at Ellsworth and the Joint Employment Tactics School there will move to bases in other states later this year, resulting in a combined loss of 99 military jobs for South Dakota.
At Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the 5th Bomb Wing will lose 14 B-52 bombers and deactivate the 72nd Bomb Squadron, resulting in a loss of 476 military jobs.
Among the other changes announced by the Air Force are a series of cutbacks or realignments of units that provide space warning and surveillance.
The 4th Space Warning Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., for example, will deactivate and transfer its mission to the Colorado Air National Guard, resulting in the loss of 353 military and 13 civilian jobs at Holloman.
Also, the 1st Space Surveillance Squadron at Verona Test Annex in New York, which detects, tracks and reports on manmade objects in orbit, will deactivate. That will result in a loss of 79 military and civilian jobs at Verona.
Among the other announced changes are:
-Texas: The phased array warning system used to detect the launch of submarine-based ballistic missiles will be placed in "caretaker status," and the 8th Space Warning Squadron will deactivate. Job loss: 96 military and 20 civilian.
-Utah: Deactivating an Air National Guard air control squadrons will cost 121 military and 12 civilian jobs.
-Washington: The Four Lakes Air National Guard Station will close. Job loss: 246 military and 38 civilian.
-Nevada: At Nellis Air Force Base the 57th Wing's 561st Fighter Squadron will deactivate and its 26 F-4G planes will begin retiring. This and other changes at Nellis will mean a net loss of 833 military and net gain of 12 civilian jobs. Changes at Reno-Tahoe International Airport Air National Guard Station will mean a net loss of 112 military and 62 civilian jobs.
-Alabama: Closing the Hall Air National Guard Station will cost 246 military and 37 civilian positions.
-Arizona: The 56th Fighter Wing's international flying training squadron will deactivate, costing 245 military and two civilian jobs. Changes at Tucson International Airport Air National Guard Station will mean a net loss of 107 military and 110 civilian positions.
-Colorado: The 154th Air Control Group at Buckley Air National Guard Base will start shutting down. Job loss: 131 military and nine civilian.