E-Newsletter: What General Welsh and I Saw Today

Statement

Dear friends,

Today, I and the rest of the Idaho delegation were at Gowen Field and Mountain Home Air Force Base to meet with General Mark A. Welsh III, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. As Chief of Staff, General Welsh is the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training, and equipping of 690,000 active-duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and civilian forces. A few months ago, we invited General Welsh to come to Idaho to tour our world-class facilities and witness the dedication of our service members. General Welsh accepted our invitation, and we are grateful that he made the trip to see everything Gowen Field and Mountain Home Air Force Base have to offer.

As you probably know, Gowen Field Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Fighter Wing and its 22 A-10s. Recently, there have been proposals to move some of the Air National Guard's operations from Gowen Field to Mountain Home Air Force Base. There have also been proposals to retire the A-10 and replace it with something else. These proposals could affect the lives of many Idahoans.

General Welsh made it clear that these are fiscally difficult times, and he along with other military brass are examining all options as they seek to adjust to current and future budget constraints. I appreciated his candidness in recognizing the need for cuts. I also appreciated that he took the time to visit two of our military's greatest assets - Gowen Field and Mountain Home Air Force Base - so he could truly understand all that these facilities have to offer.

General Welsh's trip -- and the unity of our delegation -- will count for a lot as we work with the Guard and the Air Force to keep these assets strong and competitive. Our goal is to ensure a long-term, viable air mission for the Idaho Air National Guard, and we will continue to work with all the relevant stakeholders to determine the best way to achieve that goal. So far, our discussions have been productive and encouraging, and they will continue. By continuing to work together, we can ensure that the future of the Idaho Air National Guard is a bright one.

Source