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Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee sponsored a resolution that passed at the Miami-Dade County Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 16, urging the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to continue to utilize the Homestead Air Reserve Base for active military operations and urging the U.S. Congress to continue to fund the Homestead Air Reserve Base at current or greater levels for such purposes.
“The Homestead Air Reserve Base is important to the Miami-Dade County economy, particularly that of South Dade because it contributes 4,700 direct and indirect jobs, nearly $400 million in direct expenditures each year, and more than an estimated $800 million in total economic benefits when indirect impacts are considered,” Commissioner McGhee said.
“As one of the commissioners representing South Dade and chairman of the Military Affairs Board, I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping the Homestead Air Reserve Base in optimal conditions to keep providing key support to multiple federal joint and interagency operations and missions,” Commissioner McGhee added.
The Homestead Air Reserve Base is maintained and operated by the 482nd Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, as a fully combat-ready unit capable of providing multi-purpose fighter aircraft, along with mission-ready pilots and support personnel.
Since 9/11, this fighter squadron has supported numerous deployments, including Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation New Horizons, Operation Viper Javelin, Operation Unified Response, Operations Northern and Southern Watch, and Operation New Dawn.
The 482nd Fighter Wing also trains civil engineering, communications, medical, logistics, aircraft maintenance, mission support, aerial transportation specialists, and a security forces squadron that can be deployed interchangeably with active-duty units to meet U.S. Air Force commitments around the world.
Additionally, the Homestead Air Reserve Base is ideally located for air defense missions and currently provides basing for the 24/7 alert for U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and North American Air Defense Command’s (NORAD) air defense mission for the southeastern United States.
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