U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, has praised the U.S. Air Force’s selection of the Air National Guard’s 136th Airlift Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth as the newest location for an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.
This follows the Air Force’s recent selection of the 136th Airlift Wing as the future home of new Lockheed Martin C-130J aircraft, which Granger was instrumental in bringing to the base, a news release from Granger’s office said.
“For almost one hundred years, the fine men and women who serve on Fort Worth’s military base installation have demonstrated the skills and experience needed to respond to national security threats, natural disasters, medical emergencies, and more – from supporting America’s fight for freedom in World War II to leading the future of American airpower today,” Granger’s statement said.
“Recently, I was proud to successfully lead the fight to replace the 136th Airlift Wing’s aging C-130Hs with advanced C-130Js, which fly faster, higher, and farther with more cargo compared to the older models.
“Today’s announcement from the Air Force selecting the 136th Airlift Wing to additionally receive a new Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron further underlines the Air Force’s strong commitment to the future of NAS JRB Fort Worth and to all of North Texas,” Granger said.
She said seven bases competed for this mission through months of evaluation and the strong existing infrastructure of the NAS JRB Fort Worth made it the preferred choice.
“Along with the new C-130Js providing a strong addition to our base’s existing fleet, the new Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron will significantly expand the global mission as well as medical evacuation capabilities of our base’s 136th Airlift Wing,” Granger said.
“We are honored to add yet another capability to our already robust force,” said Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris, the Adjutant General of Texas. “Any time we add medical assets, we know we will be better equipped to help Texas and the nation in their most critical times of need.”
Norris said that the medical community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is second to none and will provide an outstanding source of medical professionals to staff these new positions in the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.