Saved in Terre Haute: Indian
a Air Guardsmen of the 181st Fighter Wing in Terre Haute still have to give up their F-16s (to neighboring Fort Wayne, no less) under BRAC 2005, but they get two new missions in exchange, reports the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. The Pentagon plans to put an intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance data analysis unit (called a Distributed Common Ground Station) and an Air Support Operations Squadron (read that battlefield airmen) at Terre Haute. Combined, the two new missions will require about 420 Air Guardsmen.
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.