Air Force proposes cuts and realignments; 700 jobs at Hill could be chopped

Hill Air Force Base is facing more than 700 job cuts as part of a restructuring plan announced by the Air Force.

The plan includes suggested cuts and reassignments at Air Force bases across the nation, and was released publicly Friday as part of a proposed force structure realignment plan for fiscal 2010.

Hill Air Force Base could see the reduction of 737 military jobs and the increase of 87 civilian jobs on base. About 20,000 civilian and military employees work at Hill, said Charles Freeman, the base's deputy director of public affairs.

The proposal suggests the elimination of 660 positions for the 388th Fighter Wing because of a nationwide reduction of F-16s, according to www.af.mil. Hill houses 72 F-16s in its 388th Fighter Wing, but would lose 24 of those according to the restructure plan, which calls for the early retirement of 134 F-16s nationwide.

The proposal also calls for a reduction of 144 military positions and one civilian position for the 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron because the unit will be inactivated, the Air Force Web site states.

But exactly which positions will be realigned, eliminated or added and when that will take place isn't yet known, Freeman said Saturday evening.

"As far as how positions are going to be taken off the books, we'll find that out at a later time," he said. "This is all designed to make the Air Force in a leaner

Freeman said Hill officials may discuss the proposal in more detail publicly on Monday.

Utah Republican Rep. Rob Bishop is concerned about the Air Force's proposal and the negative impacts it could have on Hill.

Bishop said in a statement to The Salt Lake Tribune on Saturday that the proposal is based on plans to cut 249 planes out of the Air Force's fleet: the 134 F-16s, three A-10s and 112 F-15s. While Hill could eventually house a fleet of F-35s, which will replace the country's retiring F-16s, Bishop said it is illogical to get rid of existing aircraft before new jets arrive.

"We should never remove a plane until we have a replacement ready to be used. We are not there yet," Bishop said.

He asked in the 2010 Defense Authorization Bill for a one-year delay on any of the aircraft reduction plans. The House passed the measure Thursday, but the bill still needs Senate approval.

Bishop said he's hopeful the bill passes so three squadrons of F-16s that make up the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill will be protected.

"If you're going to cut defense spending, this is one way to do it," Bishop said. "I personally don't think this is a good idea right now, and it would obviously impact Hill directly and negatively."

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said in a prepared statement that the realignment plan better prepares the Air Force to do its job in a changing world.

"The force structure announcement reflects our best effort to meet the expanding Air Force mission areas and growing joint demands," Schwartz said Friday.

"We've made some hard choices. However, we believe this is the best overall design to meet America's national security needs and to support the joint fight," Schwartz's statement reads.

mrogers@sltrib.com