WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) called for a meeting between Southeast Georgia constituents and Air Force and Air National Guard leadership to discuss the devastating impacts of the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center’s (CRTC) proposed closure.
The CRTC, which will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September for a $25 million airplane hangar, is set to close next spring due to cuts in the Air Force’s FY 2023 budget.
In the letter, the Members write: “The Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center is the most heavily utilized, unique, and cost efficient training facility in the Air Force. It offers unparalleled opportunities for peer-to-peer air combat training, regional training conferences, classified engagements, and support for regional operations.”
The Members continue: “Closing the CRTC would pointedly undercut this investment. Furthermore, the Savannah CRTC was recently selected by Air Combat Command to host two exercises annually to train for Agile Combat Employment in support of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force guidance.”
Several members of the Georgia Delegation joined the letter, including: Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), Rep. David Scott (D-GA), Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA), Rep. Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA), and Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA).
Read the full letter to Secretary Kendall here.
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