I think that it wasn't posted before. I guess that this 'freeze' is good news for the A-10 fleet at Spang!
Gtz, Paul
F-22 Raptors' move from Holloman AFB on hold for 18 months
Sun-News report Las Cruces Sun-News
Posted: lcsun-news.com
Posted: 10/12/2012 05:11:35 PM MDT
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. -- Holloman Air Force Base officials here said Friday the
scheduled transfer of F-22 Raptors from Holloman, near Alamogordo, to
Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida will be delayed due an ongoing freeze on
U.S. Air Force structure changes, including aircraft transfers.
That will also postpone the transfer of F-16 Fighting Falcons from Luke Air
Force Base in Arizona to Holloman.
Aircraft and personnel assigned to the 7th Fighter Squadron at Holloman were
scheduled to move to Tyndall in spring 2013 and two F-16 training squadrons
from Luke were supposed to move to Holloman. But Col. Andrew Croft,
commander of the 49th Wing at Holloman, said the Raptors are expected to
remain there -- and will continue to conduct training flight missions -- for
about another 18 months.
Despite the freeze, Holloman will continue to plan and prepare for the
mission changes.
"Let me emphasize that although this mission change has been delayed, it has
not been canceled," Croft said. "We are actively preparing for the arrival
of the F-16s and, in the meantime, F-22s will continue to fly at Holloman
and remain ready for worldwide deployment anytime, anywhere."
The 2013 Fiscal Year Continuing Resolution, under which the Department of
Defense is currently operating, expressly prohibits aircraft retirements,
divestitures, realignments, or transfers that result in changes to force
structure that would be permanent or irreversible. Also, in congressional
testimony earlier this year, the Secretary of the Air Force committed to
wait for congressional deliberations before taking any action that would
presume approval of proposed force structure changes for the federal
government's 2013 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1 and continues through
Sept. 30, 2013.
Croft is committed to minimizing the impact this delay will have on Holloman
airmen and their families, he said.
"I'm asking our airmen to remain flexible and understanding of the complex
budgetary situation our nation is facing," he said.
