Letter from Pentagon causes concerns over future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) - A letter from the Pentagon caused confusion about Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

The issue had to do with a plan involving Selfridge air planes.

The letter sent from the Air Force to top lawmakers in Washington has generated a lot of talk and confusion about the 24 A-10s on base.

The wording wasn't clear and lawmakers thought the Air Force wanted to shift all of the A-10s out of Michigan.

For a community that is very much tied to the base, significant cuts are always a concern.

“If the A-10s leave, well you know, we're going to realize a turnover of some residents. And it would definitely have a negative economic impact,” says Harrison Township Supervisor Kenneth Verkest.

But a follow-up letter clarified the Air Force's intention: only six of the A-10s will leave the base this year, and that was something agreed to back in 2010.

Michigan's congressional delegation says other potential cuts to Selfridge down the road will be fought.

“It is important to Michigan in terms of jobs. It’s important to our national security. You know, our guard and reserves are on the front lines right now in Afghanistan, Iraq, around the world, as well as their efforts around the country,” says Senator Debbie Stabenow. “So it is critical that we keep Selfridge Air [National Guard} Base intact.”

A spokesperson for Selfridge tells Action News that the original plan to remove six of the 24 A-10s from base later this year will not affect any jobs because they only staffed for 18 from the very beginning.