Community Corner

Air Base 'Secure' Despite Furloughs

Several dozen military personnel assigned to the Horsham Air Guard Station are out of work indefinitely because of the government shutdown.

By Theresa Katalinas

The majority of military assigned to the Horsham Air Guard are exempt from furloughs stemming from the government shutdown and continue to "secure life and property" at the 1,100-acre federal property, an official told Patch.

Col. Howard “Chip” Eissler, commander of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 111th Fighter Wing–the host military branch at the Horsham Air Guard Station–told Patch that "the base is still secure" despite the 39 furloughs of military technicians that took effect halfway through the day on Tuesday. 

"I don't think it's going to be a threat of shutting down," he said of the federally owned property. 

The Horsham Air Guard Station occupies about 238 acres of the 1,100-acre base, which was previously known as Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove until its closure in September 2011. 

The remaining 862 acres of the former military base are being eyed for redevelopment. The federal government is conducting an environmental impact statement of the property and the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority is awaiting further land acquisition steps in the coming months. 

HLRA Executive Director Mike McGee said he does not believe the government shutdown will impact–or further delay–the redevelopment process "unless is lasts for a long time." At a minimum, officials have estimated that it would take 20 to 25 years for the base's redevelopment. 

For the approximate 950 military members–300 of which are full-time employees–assigned to the Horsham Air Guard Station, the government shutdown comes on the heels of furloughs last month stemming from sequestration, according to Eissler. 

"We didn't think it was going to happen," Eissler said from his office Wednesday, acknowledging that on that day, he, too was on furlough.

But, unlike the Horsham Air Guard Station's other military personnel off from work indefinitely, Eissler said he is able to return to his duties–and receive pay–starting on Thursday. 

"I have no idea when they're going to be able to come back," Eissler said, adding that he and his unit were hit with six days off without pay in September. 

With the exception of three military units set to deploy to the Middle East in the next six months, the base's weekend drills have been cancelled, he said. Also cancelled is the Hometown Heroes Day, which was slated for Saturday.

Reservists should drill one weekend a month at an "absolute minimum" to be ready in the event of deployment, Eissler said, adding that drills may be able to be made up at another time, although "that's not guaranteed."

On Wednesday morning, Eissler had the TV news on in his office, waiting and listening for word on a resolution. 

"We're certainly interested in what's going to go on," he said. "It's frustrating right after the furlough ... There's people that have gotten hit by both."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here