Fate of Willow Grove Units Still Very Unclear
Friday August 26, 2005
I've been watching the BRAC (Base Closure and Realignment Commission) meetings this week on C-Span. I think that the Commission did a pretty good job for the first two days. Their sessions were clear and organized. Today everything was a mess. For some reason the Commission just couldn't get its act in order when it came to discussing Air Force Bases and anything involving National Guard Facilities.
The Department of Defense had proposed closing the Willow Grove Naval Air Station and the 111th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard. This would be a serious blow to the Willow Grove area. Early this afternoon, a federal judge ruled in a suit brought by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell that the Pentagon was in error in not getting the governor's approval before deciding to disband the base's Air National Guard unit. The Air National Guard unit works under orders of the governor about 90% of the time.
The BRAC Commission then addressed the issue and voted unanimously to close the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, but appeared to totally skip the issue of the Air National Guard unit that operates out of the base. What this split decision ultimately means for the future of the facility at Willow Grove is anyone's guess at this point. The law appears fairly clear on the role a governor has over a National Guard facility in his or her state.
One would assume that the Department of Defense would appeal the court ruling, but since the BRAC Commission removed all language associated with the Air National Guard unit, it is possible that the issue is resolved and that the 111th Fighter Wing will remain at Willow Grove. The question then becomes whether the unit can function if the Naval Air Station and its support facilities is closed.
It wasn't a total loss or a total victory. It seems clear that the issue is far from resolved.
The Department of Defense had proposed closing the Willow Grove Naval Air Station and the 111th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard. This would be a serious blow to the Willow Grove area. Early this afternoon, a federal judge ruled in a suit brought by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell that the Pentagon was in error in not getting the governor's approval before deciding to disband the base's Air National Guard unit. The Air National Guard unit works under orders of the governor about 90% of the time.
The BRAC Commission then addressed the issue and voted unanimously to close the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, but appeared to totally skip the issue of the Air National Guard unit that operates out of the base. What this split decision ultimately means for the future of the facility at Willow Grove is anyone's guess at this point. The law appears fairly clear on the role a governor has over a National Guard facility in his or her state.
One would assume that the Department of Defense would appeal the court ruling, but since the BRAC Commission removed all language associated with the Air National Guard unit, it is possible that the issue is resolved and that the 111th Fighter Wing will remain at Willow Grove. The question then becomes whether the unit can function if the Naval Air Station and its support facilities is closed.
It wasn't a total loss or a total victory. It seems clear that the issue is far from resolved.
Comments
No comments yet. Leave a Comment