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A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE OF THE 150TH FIGHTER WING

AND URGING THE FULL SUPPORT OF OUR STATE AND LOCAL ELECTED

OFFICIALS IN FACILITATING THE SELECTION OF THE UNITED STATES

AIR FORCES NEWEST TACTICAL FIGHTER, THE F-35, FOR PERMANENT

FUTURE DEPLOYMENT TO KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE.

WHEREAS, United States military forces have used the

150th fighter wing, the famed "Flying Tacos", for air

interdiction in direct support of the United States air

force's air combat command, the 12th air force; and

WHEREAS, the Flying Tacos' current mission aircraft, the

F-16, maintains a worldwide deployment capability for the

United States air force; and

WHEREAS, the Kirtland air force community, or "Team

Kirtland", has been an integral part of New Mexico's proud

military history for more than sixty years; and

WHEREAS, the United States air force announced a new

"road map" for all current and future assets on January 16,

2008; and

WHEREAS, this new road map could mean additional

aircraft for New Mexico's three major air bases of which

Kirtland air force base is one; and

WHEREAS, United States air force chief of staff

General T. Michael Moseley has stated that this road map is a

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long-term plan to modernize the air force, and it outlines

what the next generation's weapons systems will be and where

they might be based in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the United States air force will have fewer

aircraft in the future and those remaining limited assets

will have to be more efficient and flexible than present

systems; and

WHEREAS, Kirtland air force base in 1995 and Cannon air

force base in 2005 were both saved from closure or major

realignment by the sustained effort of New Mexico's federal,

state and local elected officials; and

WHEREAS, the United States air force has indicated that

Kirtland air force base is on a short list of thirty-three

bases nationwide that are being studied for basing of this

nation's newest tactical fighter, the F-35; and

WHEREAS, the United States air force has stated that

only those worthy installations that meet preliminary

standards for these new aircraft missions will be allowed to

undergo final rigorous environmental evaluation and

operational analysis; and

WHEREAS, these required and complex studies, which will

take several years, will determine the final basing mode of

the F-35; and

WHEREAS, due to Kirtland air force base's long and

sustained record in the defense systems evaluations of both

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domestic and foreign systems testing, and due to such factors

as low installation operational costs, recent infrastructure

investment, "Team Kirtland's" overlapping and proximate

relationship with its associated units and its incalculable

replacement cost to the United States, the United States

department of defense decided to retain Kirtland air force

base as a vital national asset; and

WHEREAS, the United States department of defense has

announced plans to retire "Team Kirtland's Flying Tacos" in

the near future due to their age and changing mission

requirements; and

WHEREAS, the United States air force has announced plans

to field the F-35 tactical fighter jet and place it in

service in 2013; and

WHEREAS, unless Kirtland air force base retains an

active future aircraft mission, New Mexico's historic

contribution to national air power and its economic vitality

may be put at risk;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it support an active and sustained

mission to assist all public and private efforts to bring the

F-35 tactical fighter to Kirtland air force base; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the United States departments of defense and

air force, the commanding officer of Kirtland air force base,

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the commanding officers of the New Mexico air national guard

and the 150th fighter wing, the governor, the New Mexico

adjutant general and the members of the New Mexico

congressional delegation.