U.S. Senator John Boozman, a Senate Air Force Caucus Co-Chair and member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, has secured strong support for missions at Little Rock Air Force Base and Ebbing Air National Guard Base. Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin have expressed their backing.
Boozman highlighted the recent graduation of two pilots from the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission at Ebbing in Fort Smith, emphasizing its significance in training allies on U.S. platforms. “We’ve discussed the critical role the F-35 FMS training mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base plays not only in maintaining our air superiority but also in strengthening alliances,” Boozman stated.
Meink remarked on the importance of international training partnerships: “I think it’s a combination of simplifying FMS so it allows them to get the platforms, and then allowing them to train with us on the platforms, is one of the best ways to get integrated effects between us and our international partners.”
Allvin added, “If we’re selling them the best equipment, you want them to be trained by the best. So we want to be able to do that at Ebbing.”
The senator also addressed changes related to the Deployable Combat Wing concept announced by the Air Force earlier this year. Little Rock Air Force Base was among five installations selected for this initiative aimed at ensuring readiness upon deployment.
“The Deployable Combat Wing allows us to move away from a pattern we’ve had over the past few decades,” Allvin explained. He emphasized that units trained together enhance fighting effectiveness and morale: “Units that train together have a common esprit de corps that I think is pushing that warrior ethos we’re trying to enhance.”
The selected installations will see an increase in assigned airmen to maintain adequate staffing levels. “We have an increase in airmen that will make sure when that entire wing picks up and goes, that the base is still supported,” Allvin confirmed.
Boozman reiterated concerns about temporary funding’s impact on military missions and expressed his intention to collaborate with defense officials on legislative solutions against armed drone threats.
