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Future of the 180th fighter wing

Federal budget cuts could close military bases across the nation, so what does that mean for the 180th fighter wing in Swanton?  As it looks right now, the base should be safe, but they've been on the chopping block before. 

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur says the future of the 180th fighter wing, based at Toledo Express Airport is bright. "They have built themselves into the type of force that the department of defense can't walk away from"

In January, President Obama called for the approval of two new rounds of Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC.  Basically, its a process the department of defense uses to reorganize to make it more efficient.  However, it could mean the closure of several bases nationwide and closer to home.

"Around Ohio, however, we have very under utilized facilities and I think those are more likely to be reviewed as this moves forward," Kaptur said.

At this point, Kaptur and members of the 180th are confident the base won't be affected.  But the last time the Department of Defense went through BRAC was in 2005, and the 180th base was on the list.  Many in the area worked to keep the location open and it was obviously spared.

"We've been modernizing that base for 30 years and its an asset that belongs to the nation," Kaptur said of the base.

There is no exact timeline on the cuts.  Still, bases like this will need to prove what they're capable of during the process.

As you know, Kaptur is locked in what many believe is the political battle of her life.  She's running against another longtime Congressman Dennis Kucinich to retain her 9th district seat.  The seat she's held since 1983.