Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation | 13
defense strategy. A subset, yet strategically
significant component of the fighter wing
is a composite of F-16 fighters known as the
18th Aggressor Squadron. In order to shave
what is some $227 million from their bud-
get over a five-year period, the Air Force has
proposed moving the F-16 squadron from
Eielson AFB to Joint Base Elmendorf-Rich-
ardson in Anchorage. This initially spurred
a panic as any military downsizing would in
a community that stands to be economically
impacted.
After yielding to pressure to explain its ac-
counting, Air Force principals revealed that
savings aren’t really achieved from moving
the F-16s, but would rather come from the
reduction in personnel to support a lower
level of operations at Eielson AFB. This
would ultimately result in the demolishing of
existing infrastructure. However, Air Force
officials claim the demolition of infrastruc-
ture also does not contribute to the savings
projection; the reduced number of person-
nel is simply contingent on fewer facilities.
“We were informed that the only way to
get the full $227 million savings was to tear
down seventeen buildings currently needed
for F-16 operations. Ten of those buildings
