Dyess Announces Cuts; Base Expects Operations to Continue Normally
By: Morgan Bond
Updated: March 7, 2012
More than 140 military positions will be cut at Dyess Air Force Base. But despite the cuts, commanders say base operations won't be effected.
"We are still keeping the right number of people to keep that same combat capability," said Col. David Been, 7th Bomb Wing Commander.
All together, 202 positions will be reduced at Dyess Air Force Base. 58 civilian positions will be cut, along with 144 military positions. The largest chunk of the cuts will come from the 317th Airlift Group, with 127 positions eliminated.
"A majority of it comes from the upgraded C-130J's that we are delivering. It just takes less people to fly these C-130J's," Col. Been said.
The old C-130H Legacy models need five military personnel to operate; the new C-103J's only need three.
"It's really a good news, bad new situation," said Mike McMahan, President of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.
McMahan says he was excited to hear Dyess would be getting new C-130J's, which would allow them to continue their mission of bring hope to individuals overseas.
"Bad news is, there will be a reduction in positions," McMahan said.
The base was careful to emphasize that these reductions don't mean a reduction in personnel. Some of the personnel could be transferred to another base, and some positions being cut may have never been filled in the first place.
"We are keeping our quality good, but our quantity is going down," Been said.
"We are still keeping the right number of people to keep that same combat capability," said Col. David Been, 7th Bomb Wing Commander.
All together, 202 positions will be reduced at Dyess Air Force Base. 58 civilian positions will be cut, along with 144 military positions. The largest chunk of the cuts will come from the 317th Airlift Group, with 127 positions eliminated.
"A majority of it comes from the upgraded C-130J's that we are delivering. It just takes less people to fly these C-130J's," Col. Been said.
The old C-130H Legacy models need five military personnel to operate; the new C-103J's only need three.
"It's really a good news, bad new situation," said Mike McMahan, President of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.
McMahan says he was excited to hear Dyess would be getting new C-130J's, which would allow them to continue their mission of bring hope to individuals overseas.
"Bad news is, there will be a reduction in positions," McMahan said.
The base was careful to emphasize that these reductions don't mean a reduction in personnel. Some of the personnel could be transferred to another base, and some positions being cut may have never been filled in the first place.
"We are keeping our quality good, but our quantity is going down," Been said.
