Massachusetts lawmakers urge Pentagon to reverse cuts at Otis base
WASHINGTON — Massachusetts lawmakers are urging the Pentagon to “reexamine its decision’’ to slash personnel in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, singling out 141 positions scheduled to be cut this year at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod.
The lawmakers, including all Bay State House members and its two US senators, contend the reductions announced earlier this month will effectively eradicate the 102d Air Operations Group at the base, which provides command and control and intelligence support to combat aircraft and recently assisted Bay State authorities in responding to a major snowstorm, a hurricane, and a tornado.
“We ask that the Air Force reexamine its decision by initiating communications geared toward understanding the local and national impact of cutting 141 vital positions within their force,’’ according to a letter sent on Friday to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
The letter was spearheaded by Representative William Keating, whose district includes the Cape Cod base.
On March 6 the Air Force announced that nationwide it was cutting 5,100 from the Air National Guard and 4,800 from the Air Force Reserve and active duty as part of a downsizing effort.
According to the plan, the Bay State would lose a total of 241 Air Force personnel this year – or 3 percent of the total. The personnel reductions will affect all installations – including Hanscom Air Force base in Bedford; Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield; Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee; and Otis.
By October, according to the downsizing plan, a total of 8,886 Air Force personnel will remain in Massachusetts.
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