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Idaho's 2013 Legislature convened in Boise on January 7. We've put together a guide to the session, including ways to contact your lawmaker, how to get involved, and comprehensive information about the people elected to office.

Idaho Leaders Push For New Air National Guard Mission After A-10s Retire

Frankie Barnhill
/
Boise State Public Radio
Idaho lawmakers talked to reporters after meeting with U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. Pictured from L to R: Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, Rep. Raul Labrador, Sen. Mike Crapo, Sen. Jim Risch, Lt. Gov. Brad Little.

During a two-day visit to Idaho, U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James met with Idaho's congressional and state leadership about the future of the A-10 fighter jet.

The aircraft – which has supported combat ground missions in Afghanistan and elsewhere since the 1970s – is the sole mission of the Idaho Air National Guard at Boise's Gowen Field. The Air Force has slated the A-10 to be replaced by the F-35, a more multi-purpose military plane that will cut costs.

After this week's meetings, it's still unclear what the Air Force will decide about Gowen Field's A-10 operations – and what it means for the 1,300 Idaho Air National Guard members stationed there.

Speaking to reporters at the Boise Airport after the discussions wrapped up, Idaho leaders presented a unified message. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, Sen. Mike Crapo, Sen.  Jim Risch, Rep. Raul Labrador and Boise Mayor Dave Bieter all said they were encouraged by the meetings with Air Force Secretary James.

"One of the things I was really encouraged by today," says Sen. Risch, "was the recognition by the secretary of the tremendous infrastructure assets and personnel assets that we have here in Idaho that are attractive for the Air Force and for a future mission."

Bieter pointed out the positive economic impact of having the Idaho Air National Guard in Boise.

"It's a very big issue, around a $210 million effect that Gowen has on our community," Bieter says. "Everyone presented a unified front [during the meetings]; we had about a dozen local business community members also reinforcing that point." 

About 1,300 Idaho Air National Guardsman maintain and fly the A-10 at Gowen Field. Their mission has been in jeopardy ever since federal budget cuts have meant reduced military spending from the Pentagon. The jets were supposed to be retired this year, but Congress delayed that action until next year.

"It's very well understood that the A-10 is going to be phased out of the military's infrastructure and inventory over a period of time," says Sen. Crapo. "The question is: how long is that period of time and will it be retired prematurely as we prepare for the F-35 missions that come forward? This is a budgetary issue, more than anything else."

Crapo says he's hopeful Congress could take additional steps this year to keep the A-10 in action while the Air Force decides which bases will take the F-35s. Gowen Field and the Idaho Air National Guard is among three bases the Air Force is considering for the new aircraft. 

Once the A-10 is retired, another option that's been considered is to move the Idaho Air Guard to the Mountain Home Air Force Base. But Idaho leaders aren't thrilled with that idea, and say they're going to keep trying to convince Air Force brass to give the guard a replacement mission at Gowen Field.

Find Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill

Copyright 2015 Boise State Public Radio

Frankie Barnhill was the Senior Producer of Idaho Matters, Boise State Public Radio's daily show and podcast.

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