Efforts continue by Missouri’s congressional delegation to persuade the Air National Guard to transfer the next generation of C-130 aircraft to Rosecrans Air National Guard base in St. Joseph.
Missouri U-S Senator Josh Hawley suggests that Rosecrans NEEDS the state-of-the-art C-130-J to properly serve its mission:
“The 139th up there does a terrific, terrific job with their current rotation of C130’s. But the C130J’s of the future? Rosecrans has proven that they are vital to this mission, and we should have them in the state of Missouri," Hawley tells Missourinet
Hawley, along with every other member of the state’s congressional delegation, sent a letter to the Air Guard’s commanding general asking for eight C-130-J’s:
“It is tremendously helpful in transport, (it) would be necessary for -- if we ever were, heaven forbid, in a what the military calls a kinetic conflict, a hot conflict, a war -- having the C-130 able to transport is absolutely critical," Hawley says.
Hawley tells Missourinet that the 139th Airlift Wing stationed at Rosecrans has a long history with the older model C-130’s, but.
“The C130J is the newest iteration, and here's the deal: we want Rosecrans to stay open, we want people to continue to be employed there, we want them to have the latest equipment, and we want the 139th to continue to remain vital to our military's mission…so the 130-J’s ought to come there," Hawley explains
The C-130-J’s, like their older counterparts, would be used to transport troops to war zones if needed. But the 139th would also use them to respond to any natural disaster occurring in the U-S, especially the central part of the country.
-Marshall Griffin, Missourinet