HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2012.03.22 - 20096MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION # 12079
BY; Commissioner Michael J. Gingen, District #3, Jeff Matis, District #12, Shelley G. Taub, District
#16, David Woodward, District #18
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT FOR THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD AND
RESERVE
To the Oakland County Board Of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Genttemen:
WHEREAS the Air National Guard provides protection of life and property, while also serving to preserve
peace, order and public safety. Their missions are accomplished through emergency relief support during
natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and forest fires; search and rescue operations; support to
civil defense authorities; maintenance of vital public services and counterdrug operations; and
WHEREAS over the past decade, our National Guard has evolved into a cost-effective operational force
that is critical to our national security and our country's ability to respond to domestic emergencies; and
WHEREAS the Air National Guard comprises twenty-one (21%) percent of the uniformed members of the
total Air Force and thirty-five (35%) percent of the U.S. Air Force capacity, while having the lowest base
operating expense comprising only six (6%) percent of the budget: and;
WHEREAS the Air National Guard has the highest experience levels in the total Air Force and performs a
variety of domestic missions, including transporting vital personnel, equipment and supplies during
emergencies and assisting in daily drug interdiction operations; and
WHEREAS the Air National Guard is the only military component that can serve both the President and
our Governors and the only component underwritten by shared state-federal cost arrangements; and
WHEREAS the 107th Fighter Squadron is an historic flying unit in the U.S. Air Force. After more than 40
years of operations at Detroit-Metropolitan Airport, the unit has been assigned to Selfridge since 1971. It
was designated as the 107th Fighter Squadron on March 15, 1992, and began flying the A-10
Thunderbolt II on May 2, 2009; and
WHEREAS bravely flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the 107th Fighter Squadron became known as "The
Red Devils." This squadron has served on multiple deployments in recent years, including launching
aircraft to defend sovereign U.S. airspace on Sept. 11, 2001, and being deployed for Operation Iraqi
Freedom in 2004 and 2007. They have been deploying A-10 fighter jets to Kandahar, Afghanistan in
2011-2012; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Defense has been given the task of cutting at least $487 billion in defense
spending over the next ten years. We understand tough choices about military force structure must be
made to secure our nation's future; but we must also recognize that national security threats at home and
abroad have not diminished; and
WHEREAS as part of the reduction in the military budget, the A-10 fighter jets has been identified for
removal from the Selfridge Air National Guard Base_ The loss of this mission will have a serious impact on
our region, resulting in the loss and/or reduction of many jobs for the dedicated men and women who are
assigned to this unit from around the Southeast Michigan region; and
WHEREAS the Adjutants General have urged the Senate Armed Forces Committee to delay
implementation of the Air Force 2013 Budget proposal until proper review by Congress can be
undertaken that utilizes a disciplined, objective, analysis-based process to find affordable and sustainable
solutions that protect our national security; and
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Commissioner Michael J. Gingell
District #3
Commissioner;
District #16
s. . .
„ Tat 11, Commsser David Vvioodward
District #18
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WHEREAS the Macomb County Board of Commissioners have voted to request that reductions to the
force structure of the Air National Guard be based on a sound, objective and analysis-based process
which takes into account the need to balance costs savings while retaining the capacity to assure
America's security at home and abroad.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners recognizes
that the Air National Guard is an essential partner to the State of Michigan and Oakland County in
responding to domestic disasters and emergencies and respectfully requests that the U.S. Department of
Defense reconsider any proposed reductions in personnel or equipment that negatively impacts the Air
National Guard stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby requests that
reductions to the force structure of the Air National Guard be based on a sound, objective and analysis-
based process which takes into account the need to balance cost savings while retaining the capacity to
assure the security and best interests of our region, state and nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of this adopted resolution to President Barack Obama, Governor Rick Snyder, Senator John
McCain, as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Carl Levin, Senator
Debbie Stabenow, southeast Michigan's Congressional Delegation, the Selfridge Base Community
Council, the National Governor's Association, the Clerks for the Counties of Wayne and Macomb, the
Clerk for the City of Detroit, the Michigan Association of Counties, the National Association of Counties
and Oakland County's legislative lobbyists.
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Resolution #12079 March 22, 2012
Moved by Taub supported by Woodward to suspend the rules and vote on Miscellaneous Resolution
#12079 — Board of Commissioners — Support for the Air National Guard and Reserve.
Vote on motion to suspend the rules:
AYES: Hoffman, Jackson, Long, Matis, Middleton, Nuccio, Potts, Quarles, Runestad, Scott, Taub,
Weipert, Woodward, Zack, Bosnic, Crawford, Dwyer, Gershenson, Gosselin, Hatchett. (20)
NAYS: McGillivray, Nash, Covey. (3)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the motion to suspend the rules and vote on Miscellaneous
Resolution #12079 — Board of Commissioners — Support for the Air National Guard and Reserve carried.
Moved by Taub supported by Woodward the resolution be adopted.
AYES: Jackson, Long, Matis, McGillivray, Middleton, Nash, Nuccio, Potts, Quarles, Runestad, Scott,
Taub, Weipert, Woodward, Zack, Bosnic, Crawford, Dwyer, Gershenson, Gosselin, Hatchett,
Hoffman. (22)
NAYS: Covey. (1)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution was adopted.
! HEREBY APPNVE RESOLUTION
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Bill Bullard Jr., Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true
and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on March 22,
2012, with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland at
Pontiac, Michigan this 22 nd day of March, 2012.
0Q-1,
Bill Bullard Jr., Oakland County