LAWMAKER MAY BAR UNIT MOVE.Byline: JIM Jim Miss Watson’s runaway slave; Huck’s traveling companion. [Am. Lit.: Huckleberry Finn] See : Escape SKEEN Staff Writer EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. -- A proposal to move portions of an Air Force test unit from Florida to Edwards Air Force Base could be blocked by a Florida senator's effort to mandate a detailed analysis of any cuts or relocations of the unit. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has introduced a defense bill amendment ordering the Air Force to estimate the cost and other impacts of reducing or relocating the 46th Test Wing and its related laboratories at Eglin Air Force Base Eglin Air Force Base is the home of the United States Air Force 96th Air Base Wing of the Air Force Materiel Command, and is also headquarters for more than 45 associate units. . ``We shouldn't be making rash budgetary decisions that could harm military readiness and hurt the local community,'' said Nelson. ``I expect this thorough analysis will force the Air Force to reconsider any plan to downsize Downsize Reducing the size of a company by eliminating workers and/or divisions within the company. Notes: When a company downsizes, it is attempting to find ways to improve efficiency and increase profitability. It is sometimes referred to as trimming the fat. or realign re·a·lign tr.v. re·a·ligned, re·a·lign·ing, re·a·ligns 1. To put back into proper order or alignment. 2. To make new groupings of or working arrangements between. at Eglin.'' The amendment will be part of a defense spending bill the Senate is expected to pass when it returns from recess in September. The proposal to send portions of the 46th Test Wing to Edwards would involve about 700 military personnel, but Air Force officials cautioned that the idea is just one of several being considered to streamline operations. As part of an effort to save as much as $580 million over the next several years, Air Force with the 412th Test Wing at Edwards. The proposal involves flight operations and flight test work, and would not include any of the 46th Test Wing's armament or climate laboratory test work. The 46th Test Wing performs test and evaluation work on air-launched systems and uses A-10, F-15, and F-16 aircraft. The unit also operates a climatic laboratory in which aircraft can be tested in a variety of simulated weather conditions, including wind-blown rain, sand and dust, and ice buildup build·up also build-up n. 1. The act or process of amassing or increasing: a military buildup; a buildup of tension during the strike. 2. . The unit has roughly 3,500 personnel, with about 960 of that total being military service members. Whatever plan Air Force Materiel Command  Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is a major command of the United States Air Force. officials ultimately opt
for will require Pentagon approval before being forwarded to the White
House for inclusion in the proposed 2008 budget. The plan would then be
subject to congressional review and approval.
After news leaks to news media in Florida, the Air Force acknowledges the proposal is under consideration. However, Air Force officials stress that a wide variety of options are being looked at but nothing has been determined yet. It is Air Force policy not to discuss possible unit realignments until final decisions are made and announced, officials said. At that time, Air Force officials say they will provide specific details regarding how a realignment re·a·lign tr.v. re·a·ligned, re·a·lign·ing, re·a·ligns 1. To put back into proper order or alignment. 2. To make new groupings of or working arrangements between. action will affect an affected unit, base or mission. james.skeen(at)dailynews (661) 267-5743 |
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