These Vipers need your help! (BRAC)

trailmix · by **trailmix** » 24 Mar 2005, 18:13

Hey everyone, the BRAC people are getting ready to finalize their decisions and the folks in syracuse need our help. Below is a website with pre-made letters, just print, sign and send. There is also a neat video on the site and some other info about the 174th FW. I am hoping to join their ranks and would really appreciate your support to keep them around.

Thanks,
~mix

http://www.savehancockfield.com/help

Racer497 · by **Racer497** » 24 Mar 2005, 21:02

Also we might need help here in Indiana. We are the ONLY state to have 2 Fighter Wings. (1 Viper wing in Texas and Ohio are training wings and the other are combat wings) So it basicaly has been said that Terre Haute or Ft Wayne will close their doors or change to heavys. Just a thought

Lieven · by **Lieven** » 24 Mar 2005, 22:35

For those interested, here's also some links to former threads regarding the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC):

<a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-1420.html">2005 F-16 base closings (BRAC)</a>
<a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-1760.html">ANG F-16 Units getting the 'axe'</a>
<a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-2556.html">Base closures?</a>

Sniper69 · by **Sniper69** » 29 Mar 2005, 00:44

If the 174th gets drones, where are their blk 30's gonna go? To a blk 25 unit like Vermont or as trainers to Luke?

Taco44 · by **Taco44** » 29 Mar 2005, 00:49

The 174th has GE powered birds. This rules out any Block25 unit including Luke. There has been a lot of talk of our unit growing (150th FW). I don't know if we'll see any of their birds, though. Just speculation.

Sniper69 · by **Sniper69** » 29 Mar 2005, 00:51

Gotcha, thanks Taco!

trailmix · by **trailmix** » 29 Mar 2005, 01:44

I'm hoping that the pentagon will remember the 8-figure upgrades to the facilities and equipment at the 174th over the last 4 years and not be so quick to just waste it all by closing down. Combine the 4-season training environment that other units have to deploy to get with the Fort Drum live-fire range, a huge MOA for training and its strategic location to the northern border, the 174th is an important wing to keep around. Lets not forget 9-11, the 174th flew CAP over NY and DC and was sent to intercept the PA airliner... swanee can attest to this.

Looking at the over-seas deployment record and outstanding job in the last ORI, i think that the 174th at hancock field should be seen as a valuable asset and kept around for a long time. I may be biased, but i think im right, too... even if a predator squadron was added to their ranks, they could co-exist and it would enhance the unit's experience.

~mix

chickenlegs · by **chickenlegs** » 29 Mar 2005, 01:50

Usually when they spend a lot of money fixing up a base... they close it.

With regards to the BRAC, it's anyone's guess. As Taco44 stated... rumor is that other units will bump up. Also, there are jets needed to replace lost aircraft at other units. The only place to get block 30's is from another Block 30 unit... sadly to say!

Chickenlegs

swanee · by **swanee** » 29 Mar 2005, 07:46

trailmix wrote:I'm hoping that the pentagon will remember the 8-figure upgrades to the facilities and equipment at the 174th over the last 4 years and not be so quick to just waste it all by closing down. Combine the 4-season training environment that other units have to deploy to get with the Fort Drum live-fire range, a huge MOA for training and its strategic location to the northern border, the 174th is an important wing to keep around. Lets not forget 9-11, the 174th flew CAP over NY and DC and was sent to intercept the PA airliner... swanee can attest to this.

Looking at the over-seas deployment record and outstanding job in the last ORI, i think that the 174th at hancock field should be seen as a valuable asset and kept around for a long time. I may be biased, but i think im right, too... even if a predator squadron was added to their ranks, they could co-exist and it would enhance the unit's experience.

~mix

+1

the 174th runs training ops for many of the units in the country up at fort drum, they have a great record, excellent facilities and so on and so forth. adding a squadron of UAvs would be fitting, but replacing the 138th with a squadron of uavs just doesnt make much sense... and mix is right about 9-11. all in all, the unit in SYR is a great one, they performed excellently in afghanistan about a year ago, as well as in the first iraq conflict...

fighter jocks should never have to covert to computer geeks!

92BlueFox724 · by **92BlueFox724** » 29 Mar 2005, 10:05

I have heard so many rumors of SHAW closing its not funny. I was only there for a year and I want to go back (RIP Bushmasters, GO FIGHTIN FITTY-FIFTH).

Anyways, as far as that base closing, there is a possibility. They have spent alot of money fixing it up. But then they close one of the 4 AMUs there, also the Alert side has also been rumored as closing. I don't know if it did, but if it does, then that would say to me that they are moving it to either Cherry Point, or MCAS Beaufort(Home Town). Beaufort is Pushing to keep all of its bases, the Airstation has even said that they could accomidate up to 5 more squadrons. Would it be completely out of line to say that Shaw's jets could easily move 2 hours south and fly with Navy and MC Hornet squadrons.

If you think I'm crazy, well then think of this, there has already been talks of merging Basic Training, Ft Jackson could be closed and there training moved to Parris Island.

Who knows, this BRAC is definitely going to suck