Iowa Air National Guard base closing after 76 years
FORT DODGE, Iowa — The Iowa Air National Guard 133rd Air Control Squadron has been helping with military traffic control radars for around 76 years. Some of that was way back when the US Air Force was running the base, before turning the operation over to the Iowa Air Guard. The reduction is targeting bases which do testing on air traffic control equipment.
'The Air Force decided they wanted to cut five of the ten units serving, so they wanted to downsize as a part of their restructure,' said Lt. Col. Jason Kolacia, the 133rd Commander.
Since the announcement last May, work has gone on packing and shipping equipment to various places, including the Air National Guard Base in Sioux City. There has also been work to find employment for the 132 people working at the Fort Dodge base. Of the 132, around 100 were weekend warriors.
'We've worked with the state of Iowa, with our leadership in Sioux City, and a leadership down at headquarters to give opportunities to people part-time and full timers to relocate within the state,' said Kolacia. 'If somebody doesn't find something they didn't like in the state we're working with them as well to find opportunities outside of the state of Iowa.'
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This weekend will be the last regular drill for Guard members here. There will be a closing ceremony Sunday at 1 p.m.
'I'm sure it's going to be quite a somber weekend for most of our airmen here,' said Kolacia. 'A lot of them have already moved to Sioux City or Des Moines so the footprints going be pretty small to begin with so I don't anticipate to see a lot of people here on Saturday for drill.'
The City owns the land where the base is located, so they may have the option of re-developing the site, according to Fort Dodge City Administrator David Fierke.
'We've met with both of the local leadership and the statewide leadership with the Air Force, Air National Guard, we're trying to figure out what's next,' said Fierke.
Fierke said the Air Guard has been a great addition to Fort Dodge, and the people of the base will be missed.
Kolacia said they do hope they can donate an F-84 jet, which has been a sort of landmark outside the 133's base for years. They hope it can maybe donated, repainted and placed near a new intersection planned for the area of the airport and guard base site.
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