Watertown Daily Times - Fort Drum, Congress, White House Raise Concerns About Apache Helicopter Transfers

News Article

By Gordon Block

The possibility of a delayed transfer of National Guard Apache helicopters to the north country has spurred concern from post officials and lawmakers -- all the way up to the White House.

Currently, 24 of the AH-64 aircraft are scheduled to move to the north country around June 2016. However, a House version of the 2016 defense appropriations bill would freeze the transfer for the 2016 fiscal year.

That kind of delay could cost Fort Drum soldiers, said Col. Gary A. Rosenberg, Fort Drum's garrison commander, as the Apaches are expected to replace phased-out OH-58 Kiowa aircraft and their pilots, which are "going the way of the dodo bird."

"If we don't have these 64s (Apaches), the attack helicopters coming in to be replaced, as those people that are here go away, no new people are going to come," he said during remarks at the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization meeting last week.

He estimated a delay of the aircraft transfers could mean a shortfall of 500 soldiers on post, along with hundreds of connected family members.

The approximately 58-foot-long aircraft are used for a wide range of attack and armed reconnaissance missions, and are able to carry multiple types of weaponry. Fort Drum had its first placement of the Apache aircraft in 2010, as a part of a realignment of assets from Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Stewart, Ga.

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, said the delay of additional Apaches to Fort Drum could have grave consequences in terms of operational tempo and the ability to meet mission requirements.

"This is merely a ploy to prevent our soldiers from receiving the equipment they need to protect American lives overseas, and it is unconscionable," she said.

Rep. Stefanik and Rep. Martha D. Roby led the effort on the House floor to defeat the amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations bill that would have blocked funding for the Apache transfer. The House version of the NDAA sets a timeline of Apache delay no later than June 30, 2016.

The White House, in a position paper released last week, said the delays for the 24 planned Fort Drum Apaches and another 48 Apaches for bases in Kansas and Hawaii "will damage the readiness of Army units."

The Senate has also considered a similar transfer delay proposal.

Marc Brumer, a spokesman for Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, said the senator opposed a transfer freeze for the aircraft, and was working on ensuring the aircraft moved to Fort Drum on time.

Jason Kaplan, Sen. Charles E. Schumer's spokesman, said in an email that "Senator Schumer has long been an ardent and effective advocate for growing Fort Drum and he will review all legislative proposals with this objective in mind."

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