CONGRESSMAN COSTA ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BASE CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Costaresponded to the initial list of this year's round of base closures.
BothLemoore Naval Air Station and the 144th Fighter Wing received a netgain according to the Department of Defense recommendations for base closuresand realignments.
Lemoorecurrently has 5,364 military personnel and 799 civilian personnel. Under the department's recommendations,Lemoore will lose 39 military personnel. However, the base will have a net gain of 5 military personnel and 35civilian personnel, for a total of 40 people. The Base Realignment and Closure Commissionrecommends moving the intermediate and depot maintenance workload, which iscurrently at Naval Air Depot North Islandin San Diego,to Lemoore NAS. The newly mergedfacility will be named the "Fleet Readiness Center West."
The FresnoAir Terminal (144th) currently has 375 full time personnel and 627part-time personnel. The base will gain57 military personnel and 254 civilian personnel, for a total gain of 311people. The commission recommendsretiring 15 F16s at the 144th. In addition, the 188th Fighter Wing will relocate seven F16s tothe Fresno Air Terminal from Fort Smith in Arkansas. Also, the 944th Fighter Wing at Reno-TahoeInternational Airport Air Guard Station will distribute 11 F16s to the 144th. The details regarding how the remaining netgain will be employed has not yet been made clear by the Commission.
CongressmanCosta is available for comment. Please call the numbers below to set upan interview.
Kherstin Khan: 559-495-1620
Jack Hall: 559-930-7956
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