WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) led a letter to Acting Secretary of the Air Force John Roth urging him to select Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SNGB) as the basing and training location for the Singapore F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft.
Reps. Andy Levin (D-MI), Fred Upton (R-MI), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Peter Meijer (R-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) joined Rep. McClain in sending the letter.
“There’s no better location for Singapore to base its F-35s than Selfridge Air National Guard Base,” said Rep. McClain. “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am constantly advocating for Selfridge and working to bolster opportunities for the base. Selfridge has untapped potential, and having Singapore train its pilots there would be fantastic for Singapore, Selfridge, the 10th Congressional District, Michigan and the United States.”
The letter is available here. The full text is below.
May 7, 2021
Acting Secretary John P. Roth
United States Air Force
United States Department of Defense
Room 4E878
1670 Air Force, Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330
Dear Acting Secretary Roth,
We want to first thank you for considering Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SNGB) in Michigan for the basing and training location for the Singapore F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft. As members representing the state of Michigan, we want to stress our support for SNGB as the best location for the Singapore foreign military sale (FMS) location.
The benefits of SNGB for any F-35 program are wide ranging and numerous. One of the most important benefits of the base is that there are zero identified MILCON requirements in order to house the F-35. SNGB would be ready day one to begin basing the Singapore FMS. In addition, the facility has the capability of housing and operating up to 24 F-35 aircraft immediately, with plenty of unused space on the premises to expand and house additional aircraft.
According to the U.S. Air Force’s own assessment, Selfridge is well positioned to host an F-35 mission. The USAF 2021 scorecard for SNGB concluded that the 2017 assessment of Selfridge’s facilities, runways, ramp and maintenance capabilities were misrepresented and should have received higher marks to host a future F-35 mission. The 2021 scorecard concludes that SNGB’s east ramp alone could host multiple F-35 squadrons as well as a modern operations facility and two fully capable operational maintenance squadrons.
Not only would this basing decision be beneficial to Selfridge, but the state of Michigan as a whole. With dozens of Singaporean military officials, pilots, and crewman based in Michigan, the potential economic and social benefits are significant. Not only will these individuals be spending money in our communities, but their families will be integrating into our communities as well. Their children will be attending our schools and their immediate families will gain employment or even open businesses in our state.
As Acting Secretary of the Air Force, we are respectfully requesting that you consider your own department’s reports and give Selfridge Air National Guard Base serious consideration when choosing the location of the Singapore F-35 FMS base. SNGB has the greatest potential not only for the Singapore FMS, but any future USAF F-35 missions. If you or your office needs any additional information regarding Selfridge Air National Guard Base, please do not hesitate to contact our offices. We would be happy to provide you with as much data as you require in making this decision.
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