News

Chambliss: Don’t become complacent

  • Published
  • By Jenny Gordon
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  In today's economic environment, it's now more crucial than ever that supporters of Robins Air Force Base not lose momentum for future challenges.

That was U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss' message Monday during the second annual Robins Regional Progress Report.

Hundreds of base and community leaders from across Middle Georgia attended the event hosted by the Middle Georgia Military Affairs Committee and 21st Century Partnership.

Discussion also centered on encroachment, air quality issues and future work on G-RAMP, or the Georgia-Robins Aerospace Maintenance Partnership.

When it comes to issues facing the Air Force, Chambliss highlighted mounting debt currently facing the nation.

Chambliss explained that money is being taken away from valuable programs - such as those in the Department of Defense - and would continue to be taken away in order to pay interest on the national debt.

Chambliss said that every federal agency, including DoD, would be asked to reduce spending. He said he hoped that Congress would allow the Defense Department to come up with its own resolutions in program reduction, which he said would likely be the case. This is good news since DoD can decide where to make its own cuts.

"The bad news about that is all of the easy cuts have been made," he said, referring to F-22 weapons systems. Reorganizations and redefinitions of work are likely across the three air logistics centers in the future, and Robins needs to be ready, he added.

"The last thing Robins Air Force Base needs to do is get complacent," he stressed. "Because now since that low-hanging fruit has been taken, the cuts that are going to be coming are going to be painful."

Chambliss said he and U.S. Rep. Austin Scott would work to ensure the availability of work on the F-35 fighter aircraft at Robins when the time comes. He also reminded the audience that the decision to have three ALCs is an Air Force decision; however, it is the Pentagon which makes decisions regarding depot consolidations, and whether or not to eliminate programs and missions.

"That's why it's important that we not only do what we need to do on the Air Force side, but that we continue to be the strongest (supporter of a base) in the country," he said.

Retired Maj. Gen. Rick Goddard, a former Warner Robins Air Logistics Center commander, also spoke of past Base Realignment and Closure rounds, and the issue of military value and the base's $4.2 billion regional economic impact.

Of the five past BRACs, 95 major installations were closed, Goddard said. Each base had strong community support just like Robins. In Houston County, the impact on wages alone exceeds $1.1 billion; in Bibb County, $300 million in wages.

"Just imagine what would happen to a community if that impact were to go away," Goddard said.

Also discussed was encroachment - the issue of land use surrounding Robins.

There are 270 acres in south Bibb and north Houston counties which allow for residential land use. Encroachment must be addressed and resolved because it influences Robins' ability to take on future missions.

By April 2012, the Middle Georgia Regional Commission will have purchased 70 properties in that area, according to Chan Layson with the MGRC.

Air quality was another important topic, because air pollution also affects the ability of a base to take on new missions. Air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency must continue to be met, and will only get tougher in the future, according to Ray Clark, with The Clark Group in Washington, D.C.

Another issue discussed was ensuring the growth of the local aerospace industry with G-RAMP. In order for there to be future development, an environmental assessment was conducted in the past year on Warner Robins-owned property along the north end of the base's runway.

The process is near completion so discussions can move forward regarding how the land will be used in support of the base.

Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon, Center commander, spoke about the Robins mission, accomplishments and challenges ahead.

Topics included progress on OSHA citations issued to the base last year, labor and management relations, alternate routes for base access, continued process improvement, and work the community must continue to do to help sustain the base.

"We can't expect not to see changes," said McMahon. "But our challenge will be how to best deal with those, and how do we at the end of the day ensure this is a stronger organization to support the needs of our national defense.

"Those challenges will not be easy to decide in what direction we head," he continued. "But we as an Air Force have to do what is very best to support that guidance we have been given, and to support our portion of what this nation and our Department of Defense have been asked to do."

He concluded that the Center will continue to work with the Middle Georgia community, a relationship that can only grow stronger.

"It is equally as important for us to perform at a level you can be proud of," he said. "I can tell you the 15,000 men and women of this Center are doing everything they can every day to make you proud."