John McCain: D-M’s value to national security is clear

As the world has become a more dangerous place, the men and women of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base have consistently and bravely answered the call of duty. Today, they are engaged in the most pressing global conflicts, including fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq and Syria and supporting NATO’s efforts to deter Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its neighbors in Eastern Europe.

I have always been proud of the contributions D-M has made to our national security, and believe that given the current state of the world, D-M’s value will only grow.

Southern Arizona’s excellent weather, which provides nearly optimal flying conditions almost year-round, has and should continue to attract military units from around the nation to Tucson during the winter months under the Air Force’s Total Force Training program. Under that program, formerly known as Operation Snowbird, D-M will continue to serve as a national training base for Air Force and Air National Guard pilots.

In addition, D-M’s ready access to the Barry M. Goldwater Range, with its vast airspace and 1.75 million acres, will continue to provide much-needed training grounds for pilot training and ground-targeting exercises. And Air Forces Southern, the air headquarters for U.S. Southern Command stationed at D-M, will help future airmen prepare for regional disaster relief missions and counter-drug operations.

D-M is perhaps best known as home to the 355th Fighter Wing, where pilots training to fly the A-10 “Warthog” are deploying overseas to provide critical close-air support in Iraq, Syria and Eastern Europe, and are poised to play an important role in future combat operations. Indeed, as the Department of Defense and Congress consider the future of close-air support, including the potential development of a future close-air-support weapon system, D-M has the unique history and capability to serve as a training and development leader in this area.

D-M already serves as a joint multipurpose base that trains soldiers to operate Army unmanned aerial vehicles, participate in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, and support critical homeland security missions. To sustain the future of these important missions, D-M must preserve its excellent runway and ramp space, guard against encroachment, and maintain its productive relationship with the local community.

But D-M’s future is not only important for our national security. It is also vital for the greater Tucson and Arizona economy, which have seen tremendous growth thanks to D-M’s strong presence. In fiscal year 2013, for example, D-M accounted for $973 million in local economic activity, employed 2,884 civilians, and created 4,403 jobs for Arizonans.

Men and women stationed at D-M often fall in love with the community and stay their whole lives. In fact, including retirees, the total economic impact of D-M on the surrounding community in fiscal year 2013 was nearly $1.5 billion.

The base has also attracted a robust defense and aerospace industry, including companies such as Raytheon and Honeywell, which provide thousands of high-tech, good-paying jobs for Arizonans while equipping the military for combat. As D-M continues to grow, so too will businesses’ opportunities across the region.

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As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am proud to have included provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2016 that would fund $35.1 million in important construction projects at D-M, which would translate into vital workforce opportunities for the local community and D-M’s sustainability over the long run.

As a bridge to D-M’s exciting future, opposing any premature retirement of the A-10, the best close-air support weapon in our nation’s arsenal, has been a top priority for me. There is simply no replacement for the A-10 and the close-air support it gives our ground troops. That is why I worked to prohibit the Pentagon from prematurely mothballing the A-10 aircraft in the NDAA, which will preserve D-M’s contribution to the nation’s defense.

I also worked to prevent the early retirement of the 15-plane EC-130H Compass Call electronic attack fleet stationed at D-M. The fleet is protecting our airmen from sophisticated electronic warfare attacks in conflicts in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan, and will continue to play an important role in future conflicts.

Finally, it is critical that we continue to oppose any new Base Realignment and Closure round, which could harm the future viability of D-M. I’m proud that the NDAA strictly prohibits conducting another BRAC round, and will continue to oppose this effort in the future.

While these are important victories, I believe our most important task is to repeal mindless defense budget cuts under “sequestration” and ensure that military members stationed at D-M and across the country are prepared and equipped for combat.

Community groups such as the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance and the DM50 have been vital advocates toward this end. This strong base of support for the airmen stationed at D-M, as well as the communities whose livelihoods depend on robust and prosperous military installations across Southern Arizona, is critical to making sure that D-M’s future remains bright.

From its unmatched Arizona flying weather and world-class training facilities, to the advanced technological contributions of the local defense industrial base, the selfless military members serving in uniform, and the patriotic community that supports them, Tucson has left a permanent mark on our national security.

Together, with sustained and vocal support for D-M and Arizona’s military community, we can ensure that the men and women stationed at D-M and across the state will continue to play an outsized role in defending and protecting America.