Military

Capital Municipal Airport (MAP) Air Guard Station

The 183rd Fighter Wing (FW) of the Illinois Air National Guard occupies 91 acres of leased land on the Capital Municipal Airport (MAP), located approximately three miles northwest of downtown Springfield, Illinois. The mission of the 183rd FW is to provide 15 combat ready aircraft, pilots, and required support personnel capable of global deployment to perform tactical, general-purpose warfare as directed by major command authority. The unit currently flies the F-16 Falcon. The 183rd FW occupies 2 administrative and 31industrial buildings totaling approximately 267,600 square feet with 321 full-time personnel. A unit training drill is conducted once a month and results in a surge of up to a total of 1,121 personnel.

BRAC 2005

Secretary of Defense Recommendations: In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign Capital Airport Air Guard Station, IL. It would distribute the 183d Fighter Wing's F-16s to the 122d Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne International Airport Air Guard Station, IN, (15 aircraft). The 183rd's expeditionary combat support (ECS) elements, the Illinois ANG State Headquarters, and the 217th Engineering Installation Squadron would remain in place. DoD also recommended to realign Dane County Regional Air Guard Station/Truax Field, WI; Joe Foss Field Air Guard Station, SD; Des Moines Air Guard Station, IA; Fort Wayne Air Guard Station, IN; and Lackland Air Force Base, TX; by relocating baselevel F-110 intermediate maintenance to Capital, establishing a Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) at Capital for F110 engines.

Secretary of Defense Justification: Capital (115) and Hulman (119) were both ranked low in military value by the fighter MCI. Although somewhat lower (130) the ANG recommended Fort Wayne be retained because of its record of recruiting and its proximity to Hulman--allowing the experienced airmen there to remain available to the Indiana ANG. This recommendation would also help to align common versions of the F-16. Establishing a CIRF at Capital would consolidate F110 engine intermediate maintenance for F-16 aircraft from five air reserve component units, and compliments other Air Force CIRF recommendations. The Capital CIRF would be centrally located in proximity to the serviced installations, and would utilize Capital's experienced people and existing facilities as part of an Air Force effort to standardize stateside and deployed intermediate-level maintenance concepts. Assuming no economic recovery, this recommendation could result in a maximum potential reduction of 269 jobs (163 direct jobs and 106 indirect jobs) over the 2006-2011 period in the Springfield, IL, Metropolitan Statistical economic area (0.2 percent).

Community Concerns: The Illinois community objected to DoD's proposal to send Capital's aircraft to installations ranked lower in military capability and importance. Community leaders disagreed with DoD's assertion that the recruiting base will be stronger in Indiana, and emphasized Capital AGS is located close to St Louis, Chicago, and Louisville and is strategically located for homeland defense missions. They noted that DoD's overall proposals hurt Illinois significantly, with 2,700 jobs slated to move out of the state, and added that the installation's 355 full-time and 774 part-time Guardsmen contribute an estimated $44.7 million into the region's economy each year. The airport authority and state are willing to contribute land and some of the funds necessary to construct a needed munitions storage facility there.

Commission Findings: The Commission supports the Department of Defense recommendation to realign Capital Air Guard Station and Hulman Regional Airport Air Guard Station. While valid community concerns were expressed over these realignments, the Commission found that the Air National Guard F-16 inventory is shrinking and that these two bases should have the capability to transition to emerging missions as they become defined. Therefore the Commission revised the DoD recommendation to be consistent with the Commission's Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Laydown Plan.

A second aspect of the Department of Defense recommendation is related to a realignment of Dane County Regional Air Guard Station/Truax Field, Joe Foss Field Air Guard Station, Des Moines Air Guard Station, Fort Wayne Air Guard Station and Lackland Air Force Base. The Commission found the relocation of base-level F-110 intermediate maintenance to Capital, establishing a Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) at Capital for F-16 engines, consistent with selection criteria and Force Structure Plan.

This recommendation directing aircraft movement and personnel actions in connection with Air National Guard installations and organizations is designed to support the Future Total Force. The Commission expects that the Air Force will find new missions where needed, provide retraining opportunities, and take appropriate measures to limit possible adverse personnel impact. The Commission's intent is that the Air Force will act to assign sufficient aircrew and maintenance personnel to units gaining aircraft in accordance with current, established procedures. However, the Commission expects that all decisions with regard to manpower authorizations will be made in consultation with the governor of the state in which the affected Air National Guard unit is located. Any manpower changes must be made under existing authorities, and must be made consistent with existing limitations. Some reclassification of existing positions may be necessary, but should not be executed until the Air Force and the state have determined the future mission of the unit to preclude unnecessary personnel turbulence.

Commission Recommendations: The Commission found that the Secretary of Defense deviated substantially from final selection criterion 1, as well as from the Force Structure Plan. Therefore, the Commission recommends the following:

Realign Capital Airport Air Guard Station, IL. Distribute the 15 F-16 aircraft assigned to the 183d Fighter Wing, Capital Airport Air Guard Station, IL and the 15 F-16 aircraft assigned to the 122d Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne International Airport Air Guard Station, IN, to meet the Primary Aircraft Authorizations (PAA) requirements established by the Base Closure and Realignment recommendations of the Secretary of Defense, as amended by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission.

Establish 18 PAA F-16 aircraft at the 183d Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne International Airport Air Guard Station, IN.

The Illinois ANG State Headquarters and the 217th Engineering Installation Squadron remain in place at Capital Airport Air Guard Station, IL.

If the State of Illinois decides to change the organization, composition and location of the 183d Fighter Wing to integrate the unit into the Future Total Force, all personnel allotted to the 183d Fighter Wing, including the wing Expeditionary Combat Support (ECS) elements, will remain in place and assume a mission relevant to the security interests of the State of Illinois and consistent with the integration of the unit into the Future Total Force, including but not limited to the Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) at Capital for F110 engines, air mobility, C4ISR, Information Operations, engineering, flight training or unmanned aerial vehicles. Where appropriate, unit personnel will be retrained in skills relevant to the emerging mission.

This recommendation does not effect a change to the authorized end-strength of the Illinois Air National Guard. The distribution of aircraft currently assigned to the 183d Fighter Wing is based upon a resource-constrained determination by the Department of Defense that the aircraft concerned will better support national security requirements in other locations and is not conditioned upon the agreement of the state.

Realign Hulman Regional Airport Air Guard Station, IN. Distribute the 15 F-16 aircraft assigned to the 181st Fighter Wing to meet the PAA requirements established by the Base Closure and Realignment recommendations of the Secretary of Defense, as amended by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. The 181st Fighter Wing's ECS elements remain in place.

If the State of Indiana decides to change the organization, composition and location of the 181st Fighter Wing to integrate the unit into the Future Total Force, all other personnel allotted to the 181st Fighter Wing will remain in place and assume a mission relevant to the security interests of the State of Indiana and consistent with the integration of the unit into the Future Total Force, including but not limited to air mobility, C4ISR, Information Operations, engineering, flight training or unmanned aerial vehicles. Where appropriate, unit personnel will be retrained in skills relevant to the emerging mission.

This recommendation does not effect a change to the authorized end-strength of the Indiana Air National Guard. The distribution of aircraft currently assigned to the 181st Fighter Wing is based upon a resource-constrained determination by the Department of Defense that the aircraft concerned will better support national security requirements in other locations and is not conditioned upon the agreement of the state.

Realign Dane County Regional Air Guard Station/Truax Field, WI; Joe Foss Field Air Guard Station, SD; Des Moines Air Guard Station, IA; Fort Wayne Air Guard Station, IN; and Lackland Air Force Base, TX; by relocating base-level F-110 intermediate maintenance to Capital Air Guard Station, IL, establishing a Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) Capital for F110 engines.

The Commission found that this change and the recommendation as amended are consistent with the final selection criteria and the Force Structure Plan. The full text of this and all Commission recommendations can be found in Appendix Q.