Blunt, Graves lead call to address funding challenges at 139th Airlift Wing

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) have raised concerns about funding shortfalls impacting critical training programs at the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph, Missouri.

In a letter to Air National Guard Director Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, the lawmakers noted that investments in modernizing C-130H fleets with new props, engines, cockpits, wing boxes and defensive systems had not been matched by investments in essential training programs.

“The 139th Airlift Wing plays a critical role in sustaining the readiness of the C-130H fleet through its Weapon Instructor Course and Advance Airlift Tactics Training Center,” Blunt said. “It is imperative that the 139th has stable, dedicated, annual resources to support its mission. I’ve been proud to support the 139th and its outstanding personnel, and will continue working to ensure they have what they need to keep Americans safe.”

Since 2014, the 139th Airlift Wing has provided critical training through its Weapons Instructor Course and Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center for C-130Hs.

However, those functions have been funded on a “shoestring, non-programmed, non-steady basis, and without the required personnel,” Blunt and Graves wrote.

“We know how important the C-130H is towards providing support to U.S. soldiers across the globe,” Graves said. “But if we don’t invest in tactical and operational training for the aircraft, fleets at Rosecrans and other Air National Guard bases across the country will quickly become very expensive artifacts.”

Blunt and Graves requested that Rice put forward an updated plan to address funding challenges and made the case for Rosecrans to continue housing the C-130H test organization and advanced training missions at the 139th Airlift Wing.