Name
Title/Company
Address
Yuma AZ, 85364
February 3, 2015
Senator Jeff Flake
United States Senate
368 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Flake:
I am writing to you today with deep concerns and a plea for support. I am an investor/member of a Public/Private Corporation that is tasked with Economic Development for a 225 Square Mile Region. Four Cities, One County and 125 of us Private Sector Investors entrust this Corporation with growing and sustaining the economy. This region is located on the Border of Mexico and California. We are very fortunate to be the home of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (MCAS) and Yuma Proving Ground (YPG). For the past eight years large capital investments have been made at both bases creating new military assets and expanding the capabilities and missions for both bases. This does not appear to be slowing down in the future. There are squadrons and programs being added in the coming years.
A decision to privatize the Search and Rescue function for Yuma Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) was made from within the Marine Corps at a high level of command. The reason as to why this decision was made is somewhat unclear however serious concerns regarding this decision are many. Yuma Marine Corps Air Station is home to the Weapons and Tactical Instructions Course (WTI) held twice a yearwhere aircraft of many types and squadrons from all over the world participate. Continual military exercises are conducted throughout the year in addition to the WTI. Yuma Marine Corps Air Station is now home to the F-35 STOVL Operations and Test/Evaluation Squadron where all modifications to the aircraft will be tested and evaluated. Permanent Osprey Squadrons will be based at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station; these aircraft carry large numbers of soldiers during training exercises. The ranges where all these aircraft are flown have multiple terrains with treacherous conditions including unexploded ordinance. The need for a highly sophisticated 24/7, 365 Days a Year SARS unit is paramount for this base. Having these responsibilities provided by a civilian company has the potential for extreme risk to Military Assets as well as the Civilians of Yuma County.
We believe drastic defense budget cuts and internal shifting of allocations are driving some of this decision therefore we are in need of your advocacy to ensure MCAS Yuma SARS Squadron remains a viable active squadron for the region. We are asking you to protect this mission critical squadron for MCAS Yuma and not support the movement to have this critical function outsourced to a civilian operation. The risks are too great.
Sincerely,
Type Name