THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 1, 1995 TAG: 9507010480
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
The Air Force announced a series of cutbacks at bases in 16 states Friday, including numerous changes in North Dakota and South Dakota that will result in a combined loss of about 800 jobs in those two states.
The cutbacks are not related to the list of recommendations to be presented to the White House on Saturday by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. North Dakota is hit relatively hard by the commission's list.
Virginia and North Carolina were not affected by the Air Force announcement.
The Air Force said its newly announced cutbacks are being made in response to a reduced security threat in the post-Cold War era as well as budget constraints. It said it expects to make a series of additional cutbacks in 1996.
At Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, the 99th Wing, which does bomber crew training, will be closed late this year, resulting in the loss of 222 military and nine civilian positions, the Air Force said.
Also, the B-52 Weapons School at Ellsworth and the Joint Employment Tactics School will move to bases in other states later this year, resulting in a loss of 99 military jobs for South Dakota.
At Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the 5th Bomb Wing will lose 14 B-52 bombers and deactivate the 72nd Bomb Squadron, resulting in a loss of 476 military jobs.
Among the other changes announced by the Air Force are a series of cutbacks or realignments of units that provide space warning and surveillance. by CNB