More than 600 jobs would be lost at Eielson if the Air Force moves the base’s F-16 Fighter Squadron to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage. An Air Force document released Tuesday identifies the job cuts that would effectively reduce Eielson’s current workforce 22 percent. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek at the Pentagon says the cuts would affect military and civilian jobs.
The Eielson numbers includes 7 military and 41 civilian jobs on base that were eliminated previous to the announcement of the proposed F-16 move. Stefanek says the Eielson cuts are just a small portion of those proposed nationwide under a Department of Defense’s strategic guidance plan and the President’s proposed budget.
The Air force numbers released Tuesday anticipate a net increase of 125 positions at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. A JBER press release says the number reflects the F-16 squadron coming to Anchorage, as well as personnel cuts, the loss of four C-130 aircraft, and the movement of the Air Force Band to other locations.
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Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
