Lawmakers against naval training relocation

[unhappycamper]

Lawmakers against naval training relocation
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jan 16, 2009 6:22:55 EST

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Navy would be making “a serious mistake” if it relocates the training air wing at Naval Air Station Kingsville to the Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., according to a letter from Texas’ two senators and Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz.

Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, both R-Texas, and Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, sent a letter to Adm. Gary Roughead, the chief of naval operations, requesting that NAS Kingsville’s Training Air Wing Two remain at the South Texas base. The Navy is considering combining the Kingsville wing with NAS Meridian’s Training Air Wing One, according to the letter.

Lt. Brett Dawson, a spokesman for the chief of naval air training, was not able to offer more details about the Navy’s plans or the letter.

“(The chief of naval air training) is not able to discuss it at this time,” Dawson said.

Relocation “would represent a serious mistake and would compromise the (Navy’s) ability to produce the finest naval and Marine aviators,” according to the letter, released Wednesday by Ortiz’s office.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_kingsville_airtraining_011509/%2e