Allison Ericson, Valdosta Today News Director:
VALDOSTA — Thursday, Congressman Austin Scott discussed with Valdosta Today in an exclusive interview the importance of keeping the A-10C Warthog plane from retirement.
In congress, Scott represents Moody Air Force Base and Robins Air Force Base. Scott pushed to keep the A-10C Warthog from retirement because of the plane’s close range support and its value to Moody AFB.
“We have two squadrons with the A-10s, that’s Moody, and as you know, some of the A-10s are actually being deployed right now to the Middle East in support of the operations against ISIL. I think it proves that we continue to need that A-10 platform,” Congressman Austin Scott said.
In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act which provides money to the U.S. military. The act included that the Air Force continue to use 36 A-10s out of a total 300 in the fleet.
“We have broad base support among both parties, in the House and in the Senate, for the A-10 it was a budget driven decision from the Air Force to retire the A-10,” Scott said. “We have limited their ability in the NDAA so that they can place 36 of the total number of the A-10s in the fleet and back up status, which means that those planes would still be flyable and that they will not be training and whatever else. There are 36 current A-10s in the fleet and we believe those will be the A-10s that are in Korea.”
Scott believes the A-10 is the best close air support platform the U.S. has right now in the fight against ISIL. The A-10 has multiple functions, besides close air support the Warthog is also used to guide other planes in ground target attacks.
The NDAA also provides $521.3 billion in base budget for the National Defense and $63.7 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations.
“It breaks down by mission more than by base. Air combat command which the A-10s are under will get a certain amount of money and the other missions will receive certain funds as well,” Scott said.
In addition, the NDAA rejected most of the proposed cuts in military benefits as well as the Department of Defense’s request for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).
In a press release Scott said, “I am proud of the bipartisan manner in which this bill was accomplished, yet this legislation is not perfect. We had to make tough choices to avoid further reductions of personnel, but I am thankful to have prevented retirement of the A-10C Warthog flown out of Moody Air Force Base, prevented a BRAC for 2015, and provided funding for the Next Generation JSTARS. It is an honor to represent Moody and Robins Air Force Bases in Congress.”
