Northern Command boss worried by cut to aerial firefighting wing

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http://gazette.com/northern-command-boss-worried-by-cut-to-aerial-firefighting-wing/article/1516391



Northern Command boss worried by cut to aerial firefighting wing
By Tom Roeder Updated: March 13, 2014 at 6:13 pm • Published: March 13, 2014 | 6:05 pm

U.S. Northern Command boss Gen. Chuck Jacoby said he's concerned that proposed cuts at Peterson Air Force Base could hurt aerial firefighting efforts.

Quizzed by Colorado's Democratic Sen. Mark Udall at a Thursday Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Jacoby said he's worried that pulling a squadron from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson could leave too few flight crews to drop retardant ahead of future fires.

"My biggest concern would be crews," Jacoby said. "Those are terrific crews, fearless men and women. It's as tough flying as any flying."

Under an Air Force budget plan, the wing would lose 200 airmen and four of its 12 C-130 aircraft. The cut would eliminate the 52nd Airlift Squadron, the reserve wing's lone squadron of full-time airmen.