Yuma, Arizona

BY JOYCE LOBECK – SUN STAFF WRITER

The future for Marine Corps Air Station Yuma is rapidly approaching as development of the F-35, the nation’s new joint strike fighter, moves forward.

The air station is slated to become the first base to receive the very first of the new aircraft in spring of 2012, according to the “preferred option” and current time line, said Maj. James Combs, community plans and liaison officer for MCAS Yuma, during Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp.’s quarterly investors luncheon Tuesday.

It all hinges on the record of decision, scheduled for December. In the meantime, Combs said the environmental impact statement is slated for public release in May, to be followed by a series of public hearings to begin in mid-June.

“I’ve reviewed the EIS and it looks favorable for Yuma and (Marine Corps Air Station) Miramar,” he said. “There aren’t any outstanding concerns that I saw.”

Still, he said, it’s important for area residents to attend the public meetings and voice their concerns, issues and questions.

“The public meetings will have an impact on the decision,” he said. “Let us know your thoughts. This is the time for the community to speak up and have its voice heard.”

It will be particularly important, he said, for defense officials to hear how the community supports the military. That’s a tradition in Yuma, he noted, that is the envy of other military installations.

Julie Engel, president and CEO of GYEDC, also stressed the importance of public participation.

To that end, the Citizens Action Committee to support the F-35 will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. May 10 at the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce auditorium, 180 W. 1st St. (the old City Hall council chambers).

“We want a big showing at the forum and the public meetings,” she said. “We can’t grow more houses until we grow the economy.”

And the F-35 coming to MCAS Yuma presents a real opportunity to benefit the area’s economy.

For one thing, it will mean more aircraft and more personnel here, both military and civilian, Combs noted.

If the preferred option is approved, MCAS Yuma is slated to receive five F-35 squadrons of 10 to 16 aircraft each as well as an operational testing and evaluation squadron of six aircraft, for a total of 76 aircraft. That’s 26 more aircraft than are currently based here.

It also will mean an additional 500 personnel. And it will require a presence by civilian contractors to help with advanced maintenance, Combs said.

The goal is to have personnel start arriving the summer of 2011, 10 aircraft here by December 2012 and the first scheduled deployment in 2014, Combs said. Other F-35 squadrons would be based at Miramar.

To get ready for the F-35, an estimated nearly $500 million is being invested over three years in new infrastructure at MCAS Yuma, such as state-of-the-art hangars with greater security.

One reason MCAS Yuma is at the leading edge, Combs said, is because as a training base, the air station will need to support the F-35 for transient squadrons even if the aircraft weren’t to be based here.

Engel also noted that with Yuma centrally located among Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force bases in California and Arizona, it is in a position to support the versions of the F-35 being developed for the three military branches.

The F-35A with conventional landing and takeoff capability is being developed for the Air Force, the Marine Corps version is the F-35B with short take off and vertical landing capability, while the F-35C is being developed for the Navy with carrier landing capability.

Combs said MCAS Yuma has also been designated for a temporary training squadron if plans fall through to locate training for all the military branches at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. However, he said, lawsuits challenging Eglin are currently on hold and that base is on track.

Combs also stressed that the Marine Corps’ decision about the F-35 is independent of the other two branches, including the Air Force, which is considering Phoenix or Tucson bases. He added that Marine Corps will lead the way by receiving the F-35B in 2012, while the Navy is scheduled to begin receiving the F-35C by 2014 and the Air Force the F-35A by 2016.

Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.