Press Releases

Contact: Noah Sadlier
(586)-498-7122

Representative John James (MI-10) has co-led a letter with Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), along with 47 other members of Congress to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall regarding the critical importance of fleet leveling for the Air National Guard.

The letter reads:

“Fleet leveling is an efficient interim solution to the challenge facing the Air Force – how to deter China with both the capacity and capability of advanced fighters, given fiscal and production constraints. Fleet leveling temporarily balances fighters across active duty, ANG, and AFRC squadrons to allow time for industry production capacity to catch up with demand. Most importantly, fleet leveling prevents the closure of fighter squadrons across the Total Force, thereby preserving critical capacity that would otherwise be forever lost.

“As you are certainly aware, pilot and maintenance manning across the Air Force are both at alarmingly low levels. It takes more than a decade to produce an experienced fighter pilot. Unlike the active component, closing an ANG and AFRC fighter squadron results in the permanent loss of hundreds of deeply experienced personnel. That experience, and the millions of taxpayer dollars invested to train them, are lost forever. This loss also generates additional costs and training requirements to replace that experience. Fleet leveling the fighter force will ensure that the experience resident in ANG and AFRC fighter squadrons remains accessible for our Nation’s defense in this decisive decade."

Rep. James issued the following statement regarding the letter:

“Since coming to Congress, Selfridge has been a top priority for me as I’ve worked on annual defense bills and advocated for advanced capacity with Air Force leadership. We cannot wait any longer on the Air Force to make critical decisions on the future of a fighter mission at Selfridge, along with the industrial capacity to ensure that we have the fighters we need. For this reason, my colleagues and I are asking Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to use ‘Fleet Leveling’ to temporarily move extra fighters sitting with active-duty bases to help keep fighter missions based at bases like Selfridge across the country.”

Senator Crapo also issued the following statement:

“As the United States continues to face external threats from adversaries like Russia, China and Iran, it is more important than ever to maintain and protect National Guard fighter squadrons.  I am committed to working closely with the U.S. Air Force to preserve the critical role Air National Guard fighter units--like the Idaho National Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron--play in protecting our national security.  Fleet leveling is the best interim solution to preserve readiness across the country.”

Click here to read the letter.

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