Air Force announces criteria for basing KC-46A

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- After extensive internal review, the Air Force released today its basing criteria that will be used to select candidate bases for the KC-46A formal training unit and first two main operating bases.

The formal training unit (FTU) and first main operating base (MOB 1) will be led by active duty units. The second main operating base (MOB 2) will be led by an Air National Guard unit. The FTU and MOB 1will begin receiving aircraft in FY16. MOB 2 will receive aircraft in FY18.

The basing criteria for the MOBs, approved by Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton A. Schwartz, include mission (proximity to refueling receiver demand, airfield and airspace availability, fuels considerations, and the potential to establish an association), capacity (hangar, runway, ramp space and facility considerations), environmental requirements and cost factors.

The basing criteria for the FTU, approved by the secretary of the Air Force and the chief of staff of the Air Force, include mission (proximity of aircraft available to support air refueling training, student throughput, aircrew training systems, fuels considerations, and the potential to establish an association), capacity (hangars, runway, ramp space and facility considerations), environmental requirements and cost factors.

"The KC-46A tanker is a critical force multiplier and essential to the way this nation fights its wars and provides humanitarian support around the globe," explained Schwartz. "The KC-46A is a game changer, and will be a great asset to the nation, not only as a tanker, but as a means to augment the airlift fleet, provide aeromedical evacuation and transport of passengers and cargo."

"The Air Force is committed to an open and transparent process to address KC-46A basing," said Kathleen Ferguson, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for installations, "As we progress through the basing process, we will share information so interested communities are aware of what to expect."

The Air Force will evaluate all sites within the defined enterprise against the approved criteria. This information will be used to identify candidate bases for the KC-46A. After the release of the candidate bases, Air Mobility Command will conduct site surveys at each candidate base.

Site survey teams will assess each location against operational and training requirements, potential impacts to existing missions, housing, infrastructure, manpower, and develop cost estimates to determine how to beddown the KC-46 at each location.

Based on the results of these efforts, the Air Force plans to announce KC-46A preferred and reasonable alternatives and begin the environmental impact analysis process (EIAP) for the FTU and MOB 1 in December 2012. Likewise, the Air Force plans to announce the preferred and reasonable alternatives and begin the EIAP for MOB 2 in the spring of 2013.

"This enterprise-wide look enhances our ability to create, protect, and sustain all air and space forces across the full range of military operations," said Ferguson. "It is a deliberate, standardized, and transparent process."

OSACOM Aircraft Types/Basing

The following is a list of aircraft types assigned to various base/units that fly OSA missions.

Small Aircraft: C-12, C-21 C-38, UC-35
Large Aircraft: C-9, C-20, C-22, C-23, C-26

Note: ORG is the three letter identifier for the flying unit. Example for mission #N3H123456, this would be flown by Reno, Nevada

Small Aircraft Contract Numbers
ORG Home Station Aircraft

R2A FT RUCKER, AL C-12
WAA MAXWELL AFB, AL C-21
N2A MONTGOMERY, AL C-12
N3A PHOENIX, AZ C-12
WMB YUMA, AZ C-12
P0Y EL CENTRO, CA C-12
P0F LEMOORE, CA C-12
R6C LOS ALAMITOS, CA C-12
N3B MATHER AFB, CA C-12
WMA MIRAMAR MCAS, CA C-12
P0A NORTH ISLAND, CA C-12
P43 C-12 NORTH ISLAND NAS, CA C-12
WBA BUCKLEY ANGB, CO C-21
WAC PETERSON AFB, CO C-21
N1A BRADLEY INTL, CT C-12
N1B GREATER WILMINGTON, DE C-12
N1D ST AUGUSTINE, FL C-12
A0C NAS JACKSONVILLE, FL C-12
A0K NAS KEY WEST, FL C-12
RE0 ATLANTA NAS, GA C-12
R1A DOBBINS AFB, GA UC-35
N2S BOONE, IA C-12
N3D BOISE, ID C-12
N2D DECATUR, IL C-12
WAB SCOTT AFB, IL C-21
N2E INDIANAPOLIS, IN C-12
N3E TOPEKA, KS C-12
N2F CAPITAL CITY, KY C-12
R3A FT KNOX, KY C-12
N2G NEW ORLEANS, LA C-12
RQ0 NEW ORLEANS, LA C-12
WMC NEW ORLEANS, LA C-12
N1F BANGOR INTL, ME C-12
EAA 457 AS ANDREWS AFB, MD C-21
EBA C-38 ANDREWS AFB, MD C-21
EMA MASD NAF WASHINGTON, MD C-12
RB0 NAF WASHINGTON, MD C-12
N1G PHILLIPS AAF, MD C-12
N2H CAPITAL CITY, MI C-12
N2J ST PAUL, MN C-12
N2L JEFFERSON CITY, MO C-12
N2K JACKSON, MS C-12
WAF C-21 KESSLER AFB, MS C-21
N3F HELENA, MT C-12
R1C FT. BRAGG, NC C-12
EMB SOES MCAS CHERRY POINT, NC C-12 C-9B
EMC MCAS NEW RIVER, NC C-12
N2M BISMARK, ND C-12
N3G LINCOLN, NE C-12
WAE OFFUTT AFB, NE C-21
N1J CONCORD, NH C-12
N1K MERCER COUNTY, NJ C-12
N3J SANTA FE, NM C-12
N1L ALBANY COUNTY, NY C-12
P0K FALLON, NV C-12
N3H RENO, NV C-12
EAC 47 ALF WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB, OH C-38
N3K OKLAHOMA CITY, OK C-12
N3M SALEM, OR C-12
R2C JOHNSTOWN, PA C-12
N1N MUIR AAF, PA C-12
R1B WILLOW GROVE, PA C-12
RU0 WILLOW GROVE NAS, PA C-12
N1P QUONSET STATE, RI C-12
EMD MCAS BEAUFORT, SC C-12
N2P RAPID CITY, SD C-12
N2Q SMYRNA, TN C-12
N3N AUSTIN, TX C-12
R5A FT HOOD, TX C-12
W1A FT HOOD, TX C-12
RD0 FT WORTH, TX C-12
WAD RANDOLPH AFB, TX C-21
N3P WEST JORDAN, UT C-12
G4A DAVISON AAF, VA C-12
EAB 12 ALF LANGLEY AFB, VA C-21
A0B NAS NORFOLK, VA C-12
N1S RICHMOND/BYRD FLD, VA C-12
N1R BURLINGTON INTL, VT C-12
W8A FT LEWIS, WA C-12
N3R GRAY AAF, WA C-12
P0H WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA C-12
R4A FT MCCOY, WI C-12
N1T PARKERSBURG, WV C-12
N3S CHEYENNE, WY C-12

Large Aircraft Contract Numbers
ORG Home Station Aircraft
N2C Little Rock, AR C-26
N4A Fresno, CA C-23
KGD North Isl. CA C-9
N3C Buckley FLD, CO C-26
N4B Groton, CT C-23
EBA Washington DC C-22
KGE Jacksonville FL C-9
N4Q Lakeland RGL, FL C-23
KG1 Dobbins AFB, GA C-9
N1E Dobbins AFB, GA C-26
N4N Dobbins AFB, GA C-23
N4I Indianapolis, IN C-23
N4J Frankfort, KY C-23
N1H Otis ANGB, MA C-26
KG9 Washington MD C-20
N4E Springfield, MO C-23
N4D Gulfport, MS C-23
EMB Cherry Pt. NC C-9
N1M Ral Durham, NC C-26
N2N Columbus, OH C-26
N4K OK City, OK C-23
N3L Salem, OR C-23
N4F Muir AAF, PA C-23
KG2 Willow Grv. PA C-9
N4H Quonset, RI C-23
N1Q Columbia, SC C-26
N4G Rapid City, SD C-23
N4P AUSTIN, TX C-23
KGF Ft Worth, TX C-9
N1C Davison AAF, VA C-26
KGC Norfolk, VA C-9
N4L FT Lewis, WA C-23
KG4 Whidby Isl. WA C-9
N2R Madison, WI C-26

Air Force officials release proposed Global Strike Command candidate bases

Air Force officials here announced Jan. 21 the possible locations for the eventual permanent home for the headquarters for Air Force Global Strike Command.

Earlier this month, Air Force officials had announced the formal stand up of the Air Force Global Strike Command (Provisional).

The provisional command is located at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., and is responsible for all the activity supporting the establishment of the permanent Global Strike Command at one of six possible bases.

The candidate bases for the permanent AFGSC, in alphabetical order, are Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.; Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; Minot AFB, N.D.; Offutt AFB, Neb.; and Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Kevin Billings, the acting secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, said that every basing decision is made using a measured and deliberate process to ensure that the final decision is the best possible outcome for national defense and is in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

Current performance of a significant operational function associated with strategic nuclear forces is an overarching requirement for selecting the AFGSC headquarters base. Due to the uniqueness of the nuclear operations culture and the significant time required to develop personnel, processes and systems to create an operational environment which safely and reliably meets the extraordinary levels of precision engendered by such operations, all candidate bases must meet this overarching requirement.

"The principal focus of the new command will be on our nuclear deterrence mission and ensuring the day-to-day excellence demanded by this mission," said Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston, assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration. "Co-locating the headquarters on an installation where there are significant operational functions associated with nuclear forces will provide positive synergies for this new command."

Air Force officials will now evaluate each of the six bases against the same set of criteria. The criteria include synergy with the AFGSC nuclear mission including availability of requisite expertise, facilities and infrastructure, support capacity, transportation and access, communications and bandwidth, and security to support the AFGSC headquarters.

The Air Force intends to make a final selection no later than the end of June 2009.