Here’s something we do not say often enough: The Golden Triangle needs Columbus Air Force Base.
The base, since its establishment in 1941, has been a constant in our community. So much so, in fact, that it might get taken for granted.
We should not take it for granted.
Here is a refresher as to why:
The most recent numbers show that more than 2,700 people work at the 4,900-acre base in north Lowndes County. About 1,240 are civilians. The rest are officers (957) and enlisted men and women (506), all of whom are engaged in producing pilots for the U.S. military.
What happens at the base on a day in, day out basis to prepare those women and men for their military careers is something this community should be proud of.
CAFB is more than a sense of pride, however.
It is a vital part of this region’s life blood.
The base’s economic impact for fiscal year 2014 was $241.4 million. That cannot be overstated.
Also, almost 75 percent of the 2,700 who work there live off the base. We could say they are a key part of this community. We believe, however, that they are this community. They are our colleagues, neighbors and friends.
A story on the front page of The Dispatch today details the Pentagon’s prediction that in 2019, the Air Force will have a 32 percent excess of base capacity. No specific bases have been mentioned. But trimming some surplus would save money, Pentagon officials say, that could be used to strengthen the military as a whole.
Congress, meanwhile, says closing bases hurts local economies and the time is not right to close bases.
We’ll have to wait and see what happens.
In the meantime, we should strive to support CAFB. How? By supporting our local school districts. By doing what we can to improve quality of life initiatives. These things create an environment CAFB can thrive in.
We can also simply thank the women and men we encounter every day who work at CAFB.
It’s the least we can do.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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