Robins Air Force Base Braces for BRAC

Supporters of Robins Air Force Base will plead their case to stay open two years sooner than originally expected.

The 21st Century Partnership in Warner Robins has been preparing Robins AFB for another round of inspections.

Chairman Brad Fink tells 41 NBC the group has been preparing for another BRAC since 2005. According to Fink, another round of inspections wasn’t expected until 2015. He says he is not concerned with having 2 less years to prepare.

Finks says, “we have had tremendous performance over the last 16 months or so… on time performance with returning aircraft to the war fighter.”

Robins AFB is the state’s largest employer and brings in billions of dollars every year. Fink says losing the base would be devastating, but he believes Robins AFB has a strong case for staying open because of community support.

He adds,”as a defense community we have to step up and support the air force and in these kind of economic times, businesses need to cut back and same thing with our national debt crisis. We’ve been anticipating this, and it’s just one of those things we’ve got to help the war fighter all the way through.”

Fink says the last round of base closures created around a 1,000 jobs for Robins AFB and hopes this round will do the same.