WESTFIELD—In spite of the federal government shutdown, representatives from the Barnes Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing report that they will be continuing to fulfill their essential missions.
The 104th Fighter Wing will be continuing to fulfill their missions, even after the federal government’s partial shutdown took place early Saturday early morning. The report of their continued mission came through a post on social media, which included a statement from Col. James M. Suhr, Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing.
However, training is expected to be impacted, according to the statement.
“The 104th Fighter Wing is prepared to continue essential operations during the government shutdown,” Suhr had said through the statement.
Suhr continued in the statement that while they will continue their efforts, that “there will be an impact to normal training required to maintain combat readiness.”
US Air Force Col. James Suhr, commander of the Barnes Air Reserve Base and the 104th Fighter Wing (WNG file photo)
Regarding the Wing’s missions, the statement reports that there will be “a small cadre of essential personnel” who will continue two, around-the-clock missions—the Command and Control mission and the Aerospace Control Alert mission.
Among the roles of this is to provide safeguarding for the northeast United States air sovereignty, according to the statement.
“If a local or state emergency occurs, the wing will be ready to call in the appropriate personnel to respond when tasked,” Suhr was said as saying in the statement.
The government shutdown began Jan. 20 after a budget agreement was not reached by the US Senate Friday night following a stalemate over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), among other items of contention.
Among the impacts of this shutdown, or as Director of Management and Budget (OMB) Mick Mulvaney, in a press briefing from the White House website dated Jan. 20, legally and technically called “a lapse in appropriations,” include impact to certain federal employees, from paychecks to being furloughed.
Also, other aspects of the federal government, such the National Parks Service, would have their services impacted.
In addition to this and other examples, Legislative Affairs Director Marc Short was also noted as saying in the press briefing from the White House that “about 90,000 National Guardsmen and 20,000 Army Reservists” have had training cancelled due to the shutdown, which he said was according to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.
