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Seventy-five years ago, ground was broken on what would become one of the Mahoning Valley’s most significant and robust economic and military gems. Back in 1951, construction began on the Youngstown Air Reserve Station toward its April 1952 grand opening.
In that ensuing three quarters of a century, YARS has grown fast and furiously to become a top-tier economic catalyst for the Mahoning Valley, employing about 2,000 reservists and active-duty personnel and reaping an annual monetary impact on our region of approximately $150 million.
In recent years, the Vienna Township air base adjacent to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport has undergone a series of impressive improvements to solidify its reputation as one of the most modern and well-equipped bases in the nation.
Among them are a $13 million investment in a new high-security entrance gate, a $25 million investment in construction of a new fire station that provides mutual aid to 20 Valley departments and, most significantly, a whopping $890 million investment in its transition from its legacy C-130H Hercules fleet to eight new state-of-the-art C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft.
The air base is now positioned for additional growth as a candidate for the Air Force Reserve Command’s new 33rd Combat Communications Squadron (CBCS) That effort merits widespread communitywide advocacy and support.
That campaign has gotten off to a great start. The entire Ohio congressional delegation — led by U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, and Mike Rulli, R-Salem, plus U.S. Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted — recently dispatched a letter to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink urging that YARS receive priority consideration for the squadron. That facility would add 22 full-time and 128 part-time Air Reserve personnel to the expansive 350-acre base, strengthening the regional economy and expanding YARS’ operational capabilities.
“YARS offers AFRC a rare combination of a modernized C-130J tactical airlift fleet, deployment-ready infrastructure, available facilities, proven logistics capability, an easy-to-recruit, easy-to-retain workforce, and room to grow,” the congressional representatives pointed out in their letter.
Joyce, Rulli, Moreno, Husted and company are right on target. YARS clearly stands ready and able to accommodate additional growth.
Following the departures of the Navy Reserve unit at the base, YARS has pre-existing facilities available. That asset would eliminate the need for expensive new construction and allows the unit to set up shop quickly and at a lower cost.
YARS features available ramp capacity, uncongested airspace and shared access to the regional airport’s 9,000-foot taxiway and main runway infrastructure, boosting deployment readiness.
As home to the 910th Airlift Wing acclaimed worldwide as the U.S. Department of Defense’s only large area fixed-wing aerial spray unit, the upgrades likely would improve the 910th’s ability to carry out its noble missions of controlling disease-carrying insects and dispersing oil spills. Pairing the combat communications squadron with this tactical airlift mission would enable air crews to train, load and deploy together rapidly.
Given all of these and other enhancements, the new fleet would add to the prestige and utility of the base in its military-readiness capabilities.
In addition, that strengthened position from such a significant new investment also would mitigate against the base ever finding itself on any list of Base Realignment And Closings for the foreseeable future.
For now, though, the assignment of the communications squadron to YARS is far from a done deal. That’s why it’s critical for our congressional delegation, 910th Airlift Wing leaders and the Regional Chamber’s Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission to keep the pressure on all key decision-makers.
If all goes well, a new squadron for the base’s upcoming 75th anniversary will ensure YARS rises to new vistas of growth for optimal military performance for local economic vitality for years and decades to come.