Scott Air Force Base

Scott AFB is home to HQ Air Mobility Command, US Transportation Command, DITCO, Air Force Communications Command and the 375th Airlift Wing.

During World War I, pilots trained on a small field in the Shiloh Valley Township near Belleville, Illinois. Local businesses worked with the Federal Government to formally develop 624 acres as an aviation field and in 1917, "Scott Field", named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, officially opened for formal flying instruction. In 1922, the Air Service Balloon and Airship School opened. Soon after, an airship hanger, containing more than 18 million cubic feet, was constructed.

Today, Scott Air Force Base is home to the U.S. Transportation Command which is comprised of the Air Force's Air Mobility Command, the Army's Military Traffic Management Command and the Navy's Military Sealift Command. Additional commands include the Air Force Command, Control, Communications and Computer Agency and the Air Weather Service.

Scott's 375th Airlift wing, which manages the domestic aeromedical evacuation system, is supported by the Air Force Reserve's 932nd Aeromedical Airlift Group.

Nearly 6,500 military and 3,500 civilians work at Scott Air Force Base. The complex, which occupies almost 4,000 acres with 900 buildings, has grown into a small town with its own police and fire departments, hospital, department store, grocery store, movie theater, restaurants and a motel for visitors. There are homes, duplexes and mobile homes for more than 1,700 families and dormitory rooms for 600 unmarried service members.

Dear Friends,

By now, I am sure that you are aware of the good news we recently received concerning Scott Air Force Base. After 10 years and countless hours of planning and hard work on the part of many dedicated individuals, we were very pleased to see that Scott was not on the recommended Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list released by the Defense Department. In fact, Scott is expected to gain almost 800 new jobs, receive 12 new KC-135R aircraft, add the Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, and a Logistics Support Center.

When the previous BRAC was completed in 1995, we immediately started preparing for the next BRAC by pursuing ways to strengthen Scott by upgrading facilities, adding missions and improving the quality of life for the men and women at Scott. We have made the case all along that Scott was in great position to add missions, and that effort has paid off.

Many groups, organizations and individuals deserve credit for helping to save Scott: the Illinois Congressional delegation, notably Speaker Dennis Hastert; state officials, including Governor Blagojevich and former Governor Ryan; local officials from all over the region, most notably John Baricevic; and the business community, led by the Southwest Illinois Leadership Council.

Proposed Additions/Changes at Scott Air Force Base:

• Add 797 net jobs.
• Receive 12 KC-135Rs from Grand Forks Air Force Base, SD. KC-135Es currently at Scott would be retired, for a net gain of four planes. The planes will be part of the 126th Air Refueling Wing.
• Receive Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command from Fort Eustis, VA. This is the Army's version of the Air Force's Air Mobility Command, which is headquartered at Scott.
• An Air Force Logistics Support Center will be located at Scott, drawing on five major command regional supply squads that are being realigned.
• The inpatient mission at the 375th medical group will be disestablished and the hospital will be converted to a clinic with an ambulatory surgery center.

Our work is not over. We must continue to evaluate ways to enhance Scott throughout the BRAC process and into the future.

The BRAC list now goes to the nine-member BRAC Commission for review. The Commission will hold hearings and report its recommendations to President Bush by September 8.

You may have seen news reports from areas that are negatively affected by BRAC. Many of the elected officials for those areas have vowed to fight for their local base or installation. This should not be seen as additional cause for concern about Scott. It is very unlikely that a base will be added to the original list, as it takes seven of the nine commissioners to approve such a decision.

You are invited to sign up for future electronic newsletters. Please feel free to forward this message to friends and neighbors you think might be interested in this issue.

Sincerely,

Jerry F. Costello
12th District of Illinois