why Not Minot? 4th Buff Squadron

[GZR_Sactargets]

From AF Daily Report 24 Nov 08

Additional BUFFs to Minot: Air Combat Command officially announced on Nov. 21 that Minot AFB, N.D., is the Air Force's "preferred location" to house a fourth B-52 bomber squadron, under a plan the service began in spring 2008. First, though, USAF must complete the required environmental assessment. The North Dakota Congressional delegation broke the news a day early. In a Nov. 20 joint statement, Sen. Kent Conrad (D), Sen. Byron Dorgan (D), and Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D) said: "Our efforts to preserve Minot's bomber force have really paid off. And, while we knew this news was coming, this official announcement is still a sweet victory for the men and women of Minot Air Force Base. They are the best of the best." The ACC announcement said the environmental review process, which will address locating the additional squadron at either Minot or Barksdale AFB, La., would "begin in the near future." Minot currently has only one B-52 squadron, while Barksdale is home to two operational squadrons. ACC believes it could stand up the new squadron at Minot, assuming a favorable EA verdict, by late 2009 or early 2010.

Another Bid for New Nuke Command: The North Dakota Congressional delegation would like to see the Air Force place its new Global Strike Command, which is to oversee the service's nuclear enterprise, at Minot Air Force Base. The lawmakers are banking on the fact that the North Dakota base is the only facility that hosts both ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers. (And, see above, Minot likely will get a second B-52 squadron.) In a Nov. 19 joint release, Sen. Kent Conrad (D), Sen. Byron Dorgan (D), and Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D) said they met that day with the service's top two leaders to emphasize the "natural fit" of Minot for the new command. Already, the Louisiana Congressional delegation has nominated Barksdale Air Force Base, the other nuclear bomber base, for the nuke command, since the Louisiana facility is home also to 8th Air Force which will shift from Air Combat Command to Global Strike Command. The Air Force expects to name a provisional location by the end of the year.

**My comments:
I don't think many realize all the implications of attempting to change force structure. When it was time to begin bed-down for the B-2 many, many hours were spent examining options. Some wanted to reactivate a base like Grissom. As they started looking at a reactivation option they discovered that once a base was deactivated states that were given the deed were not very interested in returning the property. Many had enacted legislation on the use of the base and they would have had to undo all that. Not a single base was offered back to the AF. They also looked at costs of upgrade to facilities at existing bases and those were extraordinary. So--Ta Dah! the winner is Whiteman. Missouri was willing to absorb some of the costs of new construction for housing and other facilities. Of course greed had a major impact and commercial enterprise started building in Knob Noster. I imagine Montana would like to see Glasgow active again too. But if ND will belly up to the bar it should be easier. If not then the Feds will have to come up with some major money. Regardless of what ACC prefers, the money will either have to come out of the AF budget (already strapped) or there will have to be supplemental appropriations. One more example of how stupid it was to disband SAC.