U.S. Senator Mark Begich was notified by the Air Force yesterday that it will not move forward with a plan to transfer the F-16 squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Anchorage, in the face of congressional opposition and pending legislation prohibiting the move.

In a letter late yesterday to Begich by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, the general says “the Air Force will not take action on the proposal to relocate the F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base until Congress has completed action on the FY 2013 authorization and appropriations bills.”

The letter comes on the heels of a meeting between Schwartz and Begich in the senator’s office late Monday. It follows weeks of Begich asking the Air Force to prove up its cost analysis of the proposed move of the F-16 squadron and Begich putting a hold on the promotion of a three-star general when the information wasn’t forthcoming. After receipt of the letter, Begich said he will release his hold on the promotion of Lt. Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle.

“This is some of the best news I’ve had the chance to deliver to Alaskans: that the Air Force has recognized its proposal to move the 18th Aggressor Squadron was not well-vetted and analyzed, and that there is certainly no support in Congress for such action,” Begich said. “Eielson plays a vital role in the nation’s defense and I’m committed to defending that role.”

In Schwartz’s letter, he says the Secretary of Defense directed the Air Force to suspend all force structure adjustments, including the relocation of the F-16s until Congress completes action on defense budget bills.

“In compliance with the Secretary’s intent, the Air Force will not take action on the proposal to relocate the F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base until Congress has completed action on the FY 2013 authorization and appropriations bills. If the bills, as enacted, prohibit the transfer of the F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base, the Air Force will not execute the relocation,” Schwartz says in his letter to Begich.

Sen. Begich, a member of the Armed Services Committee, has been leading the charge with the Alaska Congressional delegation against moving the F-16s to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson since it was first announced in February including:

• In February, Sen. Begich and Sen. Lisa Murkowski introduced legislation that would expressly bar the United States Air Force from planning or executing the relocation of F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson – and requires that just as many, if not more, F-16s are based at Eielson this September;

• Begich authored legislation in the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act that would put a one-year moratorium on the move;

• In April, when a true cost analysis and other information requested did not come forward, Begich put a hold on the Carlisle promotion;

• In June, Begich and Sen. Murkowski sent a letter to Senate appropriators asking that no money be allocated for the F-16 transfer.

The Schwartz letter to Begich also says the Air Force recognizes the proposal to relocate the F-16s is subject to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and completion of a formal housing study to ensure adequate housing in the Anchorage community for transferring Airmen.

“I believe Air Force officials have recognized they have not completed their homework for such a major move,” Begich said. “And they have hit continual roadblocks in Congress as multiple communities have faced this type of restructuring. I continue to believe moving the F-16s from Eielson is a misguided idea, and I’m thrilled the Air Force is backing off this bad idea until we pass defense bills.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski had the following response to the news:

“Along with many Alaskans, I am pleased to learn that the Pentagon is delaying the decision to move the F-16 Aggressors from Eielson Air Force Base to J-BER. But while today’s announcement provides us with breathing room, we need to use this time and opportunity to make today’s victory a permanent one for Alaska and the nation’s defense.

“On February 3^rd, the Air Force announced plans to relocate the F-16 Aggressor Squadron. On that day, I said there was no chance this plan could save the money they claimed. Last month, the Air Force admitted it would cost money, not save money in the first year – it was going to cost over 5 million dollars. I don’t think that saving money should cost so much.

“Back in January, the Secretary of Defense announced the Pentagon was going to shift its focus to a primarily Asia-Pacific direction – a region that Alaska is in a prime tactical location to be engaged in. This made the Eielson announcement even more questionable.

“Since February 3^rd, I have spoken directly to many Fairbanksans – sharing my concerns and hearing their objections as together we built a case. I raised this personally with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force General Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the United States Army General Raymond Odierno and enough military, state and local officials to fill the Carlson Center.

“My point was simple: You are undercutting your new Asia-Pacific strategic focus by proposing this. If you are serious about this plan, you need to do your homework. Alaskans and Fairbanksans know that the math doesn’t add up. It could detract from the 168^th refueling unit’s capabilities. It could have negative impacts on the Army’s training ranges. And it could absolutely wreak havoc in the two housing markets that are involved – with the unforeseen costs mounting on the backs of our military personnel.

“Once I saw the Air Force’s site survey report, it confirmed all of those concerns – and even added more. I told them the Air Force needed to go find a drawing board to go back to. When Secretary of Defense Panetta came before me in the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I asked him point-blank why he wouldn’t just abandon this plan altogether. And General Dempsey, who was sitting beside him, committed to me that he would get personally involved.

“I think today’s news is vindicating in that we’ve all been heard. The Pentagon knows there are flaws in its reasoning. They see that they need to listen to Congress on this. And they see the wisdom and resolve of Alaska’s military community statewide.”

Alaskan Congressman Don Young reponded to the news yesterday, saying: