WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today
commented on the Army’s announcement to split base the 16th Combat
Aviation Brigade presently stationed at Fort Wainwright with Joint Base
Lewis-McChord (Fort Lewis) Washington.
“With speculation that the Army would relocate the entire 16th
Combat Aviation Brigade to the lower 48, I am relieved at the Army’s decision
to split base the brigade and keep most aviations assets at Fort Wainwright,
including the additional placement of three Medevac helicopters next
year. In Alaska we’ve long known that the effectiveness of Army ground
troops on the battlefield is strengthened when they have an opportunity for
real world training with aviation assets prior to deployment. This is a key
reason that the Fort Wainwright based Stryker Brigade Combat Team has been so
effective on the battlefield. Recognizing the need for soldiers to train
as they fight, the Army has decided to increase the aviation assets available
to soldiers at Fort Lewis, Washington and Fort Carson, Colorado which host
multiple Brigade Combat Teams but have no Combat Aviation Brigade.
“In this era of diminished resources, that means that Fort
Wainwright needs to share its aviation assets in the interest of national
security. While the immediate effect of today’s decision is the loss of ten
helicopters from Fort Wainwright, I have been assured by senior Army leadership
on multiple occasions that the training and readiness of the Army in Alaska
will not be diminished. I have also been advised that these developments will
not weaken the mission or role of Fort Wainwright. These have been my key
objectives in conversations with senior Army leaders over the past year. I will
continue my efforts to increase the aviation assets available to Army troops in
Alaska through my work on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.”
Click here
to view Department of Defense’s announcement.
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