FeedBRAC: Commander addresses realignment at community summit

  • Published
  • By Capt. Michael Meridith
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
3/23/2006 - GRAND FORKS AFB, N.D. --  The post-BRAC environment has been a confusing one to navigate for many base and community residents. “Sign posts” of rumor and speculation have led many to reach false conclusions. Among these rumors are that aircraft and personnel moves associated with the base’s realignment have already occurred (they haven’t) and that there are “specific” dates set for the movement of aircraft and people and the arrival of unmanned aerial vehicles (there are no specific dates; initial plans calls for most of the base’s aircraft to leave after 2009 - about the same time that UAVs could arrive - with 12 tankers remaining until 2012). 

Recently, base leadership has begun a concerted effort to shine some light into the gap of hard information. It is a gap that could remain until the development of a realignment programming plan (well after the May visit of the joint Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command Site Activation Task Force). 

One element of the wing’s effort is the development of a strategic plan that charts a timeline, establishes milestones and defines key focus areas for the base through 2010. 

Another element came Tuesday, with an appearance by Col. Bill Bender, 319th Air Refueling Wing Commander, at an Unmanned Aerial Systems summit in Grand Forks. Sponsored by North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan, the summit brought together senior leaders in the Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration, education and politics to discuss the future of the community in the wake of the base’s realignment to a UAV mission. 

“There is a lot of work going on at the highest levels of our Air Force to determine our future infrastructure, facilities and lay down of aircraft. But the lack of specific knowledge has left us to position ourselves for success,” said Colonel Bender, noting that one key to that success was open communication. With that in mind, he pledged to keep the community informed on the progress of the base’s changes. 

Among the possible changes mentioned by Colonel Bender was the potential for a new tanker mission. Although the Air Force only recently completed an Analysis of Alternatives on what a new tanker might be like, Colonel Bender pointed out that the base was well suited for this new mission. 

“The window of opportunity from 2009 - 2011 (as KC-135s depart the base) makes Grand Forks a considered player for a future tanker mission,” he said. 

Summit keynote speaker, Maj. Gen. (sel) Kevin J. Kennedy, the acting Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence at Air Force Headquarters, also acknowledged the base’s importance and added that the coming changes, meant a lot for the nation as a whole.
“Our focus is on winning the Global War On Terror and you [the base and civilian communities] are part of that big plan. The UAV mission is key to that.”