Air Force Press Release

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force has selected Truax Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin and Dannelly Field, Alabama as the preferred locations for the next two Air National Guard F-35A bases. 

“Selecting Truax Field and Dannelly Field will increase Air National Guard F-35A units providing 5th Generation airpower around the world,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. “As F-35As arrive at these locations, we will use the existing aircraft at these fields to replace the aging F-16s at other Air National Guard units.”

F-35As will eventually replace many of the 4th generation Air Force aircraft. However, the Air Force will continue to fly a mix of 5th and 4th generation fighters into the 2040s, in order to maintain enough fighters to meet combatant commander requirements, provide required training and allow a reasonable deployment tempo for the force.

“Putting F-35s at these two Air National Guard bases continues our transition into the next generation of air superiority,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein. “It helps ensure we can always offer the Commander-in-Chief air power options and be ready to penetrate any enemy air defenses, hold any target at risk and go when and where the president tells us to go. We're the options guys. The F-35 is critical to the family of systems we need to accomplish this mission for the nation now and in the future."

At this time, the Air Force expects the F-35As to begin arriving at Truax Field in early 2023 and at Dannelly Field later that year.

These locations remain preferred alternatives until the secretary of the Air Force makes the final basing decisions after the requisite environmental analysis is complete.

The Air Force also evaluated Gowen Field ANGB, Idaho, Selfridge ANGB, Michigan and Jacksonville Air Guard Station, Florida in this round of decisions. Those bases were reasonable alternatives, but not preferred.

Previously, the secretary of the Air Force selected three active duty operational locations and one Air National Guard location—Hill AFB, Utah, RAF Lakenheath, England, Eielson AFB, Alaska and Burlington AGS, Vermont.

Additionally, the Air Force announced Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas as the preferred alternative for the first Air Force Reserve base.

By Scott Anderson
​Idaho Statesman

A little less than a year ago, the U.S. Air Force announced that Gowen Field in Idaho’s Treasure Valley was among five finalists as a base for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter mission.

Locating an F-35 mission at Gowen Field, headquarters of the Idaho Air National Guard, would strengthen the U.S. military, help keep America safe, bolster Idaho’s military community — and it would be a tremendous boost for Idaho’s economy and job opportunities.

Since the December 2016 announcement, Idaho’s civic and business leaders have rallied to encourage the Air Force to select Gowen Field for the F-35 mission. Idaho’s governor, congressional delegation, mayors, county leaders, and business leaders have sent letters to the Air Force secretary, published supportive articles and essays in Idaho newspapers, and encouraged citizens to join the cause.

All of this support is important, because one of the criteria the Air Force looks at in making decisions about locating aircraft missions is the depth and strength of community backing.

Now, thanks to professional survey research commissioned by Zions Bank to measure support for the Idaho Air National Guard and the Gowen Field F-35 mission, we also know that Idaho citizens in the region are just as enthusiastic about the potential F-35 mission as are civic and business leaders.

The survey, conducted at the end of September by national polling firm Cicero Group/Dan Jones & Associates, used a sample size of 1,003 respondents in the Treasure Valley area, with a possible error margin of plus/minus 3 percent.

It showed that the vast majority of Treasure Valley citizens (82 percent) supports a new flying mission after the A-10 Warthog is retired in 2021, support the F-35 as the next flying mission (73 percent), and strongly support the Idaho Air National Guard being located at Gowen Field (92 percent).

The survey showed that those who are concerned about the new mission are mostly worried about noise, and would most likely change their opinion if they had more information and could hear the new planes themselves. Support rises once citizens know that audible noises would be limited to 10 minutes or less, roughly four to six aircraft, mostly in the morning and evening.

Clearly, the F-35 mission has deep and strong support among Idaho citizens, especially after they learn more about these incredibly sophisticated fighter jets, the importance of the mission, and the value to Idaho and its economy.

Gowen Field has a rich history in our nation’s military mission. Over the past 70 years, it has been home to nine types of fighter aircraft. It would be a shame to lose that mission as the A-10 is retired over the next several years.

Gowen Field’s location offers many advantages to permanently base a squadron of F-35s, including optimal weather, many miles of quality airspace with varied terrain, world-class facilities, and community support as strong as anywhere in the country.

Its close proximity to Mountain Home Air Force Base and Hill Air Force Base would allow for unmatched counter air training opportunities between multi-generation aircraft. It would maintain the region’s status as one of the Air Force’s premier locations for training the nation’s airmen and women to the highest standards in preparation for real-world challenges.

With 1,388 direct employees, $136 million total labor income impact, and more than $155 million total annual economic contribution, the Idaho Air National Guard is critically important to Idaho’s economy. Even more jobs and opportunities are expected if the F-35s come to Gowen Field.

Zions Bank has a long history of supporting the military, not only in providing military-specific banking, but in supporting individuals through service opportunities, programs and events. We care deeply about our military community and are committed to the success of the Idaho Air National Guard.

I encourage you to learn more about this mission at www.gowenstrong.com. You can add your name to supporters of the F-35 mission at www.gowenstrong.com/show-your-support.html.

Scott Anderson is president and CEO of Zions Bank.