According to internal documents obtained by Air Force Times, beginning on Apr. 9, 2013, the U.S. Air Force will begin grounding front line combat units as a consequence of sequestration and the need to deal with budget cuts.
Seventeen squadrons belonging to the various U.S. Air Force commands are going to be affected by the stand down order.
The grounding is aimed to save the 44,000 flying hours (worth 591 million USD) through September.
The funded 241,496 flying hours will be distributed to those squadrons that will remain combat ready or are expected to keep a reduced readiness level called “basic mission capable” until the end of the Fiscal Year 2013.
Whilst some squadron will be immediately grounded, others will be forced down as soon as they come back from their overseas deployment. Among them, the 94th Fighter Squadron from Langley, whose F-22 Raptor stealth fighters currently deployed to Kadena, Okinawa and Osan airbase amid Korean Peninsula crisis, or 354th Fighter Squadron, 12 A-10C of which are currently returning to Davis Monthan after being deployed to Afghanistan.
Other grounded units include the Thunderbirds demo team, 555th Fighter Squadron from Aviano airbase, Italy; 77th Fighter Squadron from Shaw AFB, South Carolina; 492nd and 494th Fighter Squadrons from RAF Lakenheath, UK; 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson AFB, Alaska; B-52 squadrons belonging to the 2nd Bomb Wing from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and 5th Bomb Wing from Minot AFB, North Dakota; as well as B-1 squadrons from both 2nd and 7th Bomb Wing from Dyess AFB, Texas.
Anyway, here’s the detailed list of involved squadrons by airframes prepared by Air Force Times.
F-22
94th Fighter Squadron — Grounded April 9
27th Fighter Squadron — Basic mission capable through September
3rd Fighter Wing — Two squadrons combat mission ready through September
15th Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
49th Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
F-15 C/D
67th Fighter Squadron — Basic mission capable through September
44th Fighter Squadron — Basic mission capable through July, then Combat mission ready through September
48th Fighter Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
F-15E
336th Fighter Squadron — Grounded April 9
335th Fighter Squadron — Combat mission ready through September
48th Fighter Wing — Two squadrons stand down April 9
391st Fighter Squadron — Stands down April 9
F-16 C/D
8th Fighter Wing — Two squadrons combat mission ready through September
77th Fighter Squadron — Stands down April 9
55th Fighter Squadron — Combat mission ready through September
79th Fighter Squadron — Basic mission capable through July, then combat mission ready through September
555th Fighter Squadron — Stands down April 9
510th Fighter Squadron — Combat mission ready through September
13th Fighter Squadron — Combat mission ready through September
14th Fighter Squadron — Basic mission capable through September
51st Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
57th Wing — One squadron (Thunderbirds) stands down April 9
158th Fighter Wing — One squadron stands down April 9
169th Fighter Wing — One squadron stands down April 9
187th Fighter Wing — One squadron stands down April 9
354th Fighter Wing — One squadron stands down April 9
4th Fighter Squadron — Basic mission capable until redeployment
421st Fighter Squadron — Basic mission capable through September
A-10C
75th Fighter Squadron — Basic mission capable through July, then combat mission ready through September
51st Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
52nd Fighter Wing — Closing
442nd Fighter Wing — One squadron stands down April 9
917th Wing — One squadron stands down April 9
HH-60G
18th Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
48th Fighter Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
B-1B
7th Bomb Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
2nd Bomb Wing — Two squadrons stand down April 9
B-2
509th Bomb Wing — Two squadrons combat mission ready through September
B-52
2nd Bomb Wing — One squadron stand down April 9
5th Bomb Wing — Two combat squadrons combat mission ready through September
E-3B/C/G
2nd Bomb Wing — Basic mission capable through September
18th Wing — One squadron basic mission capable through September
552nd Air Control Wing — One squadron basic mission capable through September
SE-4B
55th Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
EC-130H
55 Electronic Combat Group — One squadron combat mission ready through September
OC-135B
55th Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
RC-135S
55th Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
RC-135U
55th Wing — One squadron combat mission ready through September
RC-135V/W
55th Wing — One squadron basic mission capable through September
TC-135W
55th Wing (training) — One squadron basic mission capable through September
WC-135C/W
55th Wing. — One squadron combat mission ready through September
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They could cut the money they need from worthless political projects and expenses easily but elected officials won’t let them as that money’s going to their donors, So, they cut the programs that are actually useful and we get left with spending going to political cronies and not the nation’s defense.
You realize that if they cut every single pork-barrel project that still wouldn’t fix our budget problems, right? They could cut ALL discretionary spending and it would still not eliminate the deficit.
oh really what about the billions sent to foriegn countries. I say go back to the old ways when senators and house members only got payed when they were in session and had to have an actual job the rest of the time. none of this one term and full retirement bs. and while we are at it cut the presidents exspense acount out and get rid of secret service gaurds for former presidents. they’re not in office they don’t need protection like that anymore if they want they can payfor it out of their own pocket
You also realize that the “billions” sent to other countries makes up about only 1% of the federal budget.
I have nothing against efforts to cut pork-barrel spending, or maybe even some foreign aid – just don’t imply that doing so is going to do much to balance the federal budget. It would barely be a drop in the bucket.
If you want to fix this country’s financial woes then you have to deal with medicare, medicaid, social security and defense spending – otherwise, you aren’t going to make a dent.
I feel bad for Mr. Cenciotti. This is meant to be a blog about military matters not political ones. What’s worse, I’m adding to it. I realize that this story involves politics to some degree, but that doesn’t mean is has to become a political fight.
But it might keep our Air Defenses Flying.
looks like the Philippines politics too, pork barrel of congressmen and senators is more important than national security needs and soveriegnty issues.
Mexico is looking pretty good now! I about had it with this betrayal to our citizens!
cya
Mexico has never looked good.
I heard Costa Rica was the best place for Americans to go. One of my buddies took off there 10 years ago tell me all this stuff would happen. He took 100k cash with him and has been living a good life their.
I actually read an article several years ago that said the same thing. It was before the dollar took a turn for the crapper, but it said how strong the dollar was there and how easy it is to invest. It was “THE” place for retirement or relocating.
Who cares about operational readiness. The President needs his 115th round of golf.
So if testing a minuteman III was sending the wrong signal to North Korea, what message does it send to stand down your air force in the face of nuclear threats?
Will this stop the chemtrails?…