Citizens urged to send letters supporting F-35 mission

Mountain Home is joining other communities across the United States to rally support for the Air Force's F-35 next-generation fighter in hopes of convincing decision makers to base the jets at military installations in their respective regions.

In a recent announcement, the Air Force named Mountain Home Air Force Base as one of five installations on its short list to serve as operational fighter unit for the F-35 Lightning II.

The Air Force also named the Idaho Air National Guard headquarters at Gowen Field as a possible candidate for an F-35 training unit. In years past, the Air Force normally based its newest jets exclusively at active duty bases.

"We are truly a total force and rely upon our Guard and Reserve partners to be an integral part of our operations," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley in an exclusive interview with the Mountain Home News.

"That is why we are integrating them into new and emerging mission sets. By considering Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command for inclusion in emerging mission areas and basing strategies, we capitalize on the experience and unique skill sets that (these) components contribute."

Also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35 is a multi-service jet designed to replace the aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons. The Air Force plans to put 200 to 300 F-35s in the U.S. inventory through 2017 and build 1,763 jets by 2035.

To emphasize Mountain Home's strengths as an ideal candidate for these next-generation fighters, the Mountain Home Military Affairs Committee launched a letter-writing campaign in late November. The goal is to add their support to the state's congressional delegation, which is hoping to bring the F-35 mission to Idaho.

"We've had nothing but bilateral support for the F-35 from our state delegation," said John Marshall, chairman of the Mountain Home Military Affairs Committee. "We're the only state I know of with this type of unanimous support. The governor and other state agencies have also extended their support for the F-35."

See the Mountain Home News for the complete story.