Senator Reverend Warnock expressed his deep disappointment today in the President’s Budget Request (PBR), which calls for the elimination of the Georgia Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center at the Savannah Air National Guard Base

This divestment of the Georgia Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center will lead to the loss of approximately 100 base positions

Senator Reverend Warnock vowed to fight these cuts in the Senate, reaffirming his support for protecting and enhancing Savannah’s vital role in the military training and operations though strong federal investments

Senator Reverend Warnock: “The Georgia Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center offers unmatched opportunities for peer-to-peer combat training, regional training conferences, classified engagements, and regional operations support… I’ve fought since my first day in office to secure federal investments in Georgia’s military bases because I understand the importance of federal funding to our installations and national security priorities. I promise to fight these cuts using every tool at my disposal.” 

ICYMI: Senator Reverend Warnock applauds United States Air Force honoring commitment to modernize Savannah Air Guard Base fleet, send new, strategic C-130J planes 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) expressed deep disappointment in the proposed elimination of the Georgia Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) at the Savannah Air National Guard Base outlined in the President’s Budget Request (PBR) for fiscal year 2023. The divestment of the training center will lead to the loss of approximately 100 base positions, a significant hit to the base and the surrounding community. The Senator stated his commitment to working with his colleagues to combat these cuts and instead fully fund the training center.

Senator Reverend Warnock is a fierce advocate for Georgia’s military bases, surrounding communities, servicemembers and their families, and veterans. Previously, Senator Warnock successfully urged Air Force leadership to not divert C-130J planes that were promised to Savannah Air National Guard Base, and he has successfully secured billions of dollars in federal investments to Georgia’s 13 military bases, including $5 million in direct spending to complete planning and design of military barracks at Fort Stewart. 

“The Georgia Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center offers unmatched opportunities for peer-to-peer combat training, regional training conferences, classified engagements, and regional operations support,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.“This center is a cost-effective national security asset crucial for regional training and coordination. While there’s much in the President’s proposed budget that I believe will help Georgians thrive, this is one of several cuts in the request that deeply troubles me. Russia is aggressively threatening the world order, and the United States must be as strong as possible. This is not the time to cut our military’s operational capacity, scale back crucial manufacturing, and downsize jobs – particularly those dedicated to combat readiness. I’ve fought since my first day in office to secure federal investments in Georgia’s military bases because I understand the importance of federal funding to our installations and national security priorities. I promise to fight these cuts using every tool at my disposal.”

The Savannah CRTC is a cost-efficient, future-oriented training facility as it shares an airfield with the Georgia Air National Guard’s 165th Airlift Wing (165 AW), which carries out critical airlift missions. Additionally, the Savannah CRTC has previously received considerable federal investments. Congress, at the request of the National Guard Bureau, invested $24 million in military construction funding for a hangar to support 5th generation fighter maintenance. This project is scheduled for completion in August 2022, and closing the CRTC at this point would pointedly undercut the usefulness of this investment. Furthermore, the Savannah CRTC was recently selected by Air Combat Command to host two exercises annually that are critical to the Air Force’s national security priorities.  

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