Lucas said, “I am delighted the Air Force has chosen Altus Air Force Base as the KC-46A Formal Training Unit location.
“I am proud of the men and women at this base who have worked hard to make Altus the best option for the KC-46A FTU. Altus Air Force Base is equipped with exceptional air and ramp space, and is surrounded by a community devoted to their mission. For over 70 years, Altus AFB has played a critical role in providing for the common defense of our great nation, and we are excited to see that mission expand with the announcement of the KC-46A bed down at Altus. Additionally, the KC-46A program will provide an economic benefit to the city of Altus by creating additional jobs. It is always encouraging to see projects like this create economic growth in Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District.”

Chairman of the Altus Military Affairs Committee Dr. Joe Leverett added, “We are elated that through the Air Force strategic basing process, Altus Air Force Base has been competitively selected as the KC-46A Formal Training Unit location. The Altus Military Affairs Committee and the community stand ready to support the United States Air Force in providing superior training and global reach for our service members. As a committee and community, we have enthusiastically prepared for the opportunity to receive the Next Generation Tanker training mission and demonstrate the assets Southwest Oklahoma offers our airmen. We take great pride as a location that has airspace, ramp space, and a community that loves the United States Air Force. As the Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, I am grateful for the tremendous support to Altus from Senator Jim Inhofe and his persistent work with the Senate Armed Services Committee, Oklahoma delegation, and the United States Air Force throughout the KC-46A basing process. I would also like to thank the members of the Military Affairs Committee for their work to support our base. I believe that support is one of the key reasons for this decision.

“The City of Altus in partnership with the Altus Military Affairs Committee is honored to be a part of the KC-46A Formal Training Unit bed down at Altus Air Force Base,” said Altus Mayor David Webb. “Throughout the entire basing process, I have been overwhelmed by the support from Senator Jim Inhofe and his team. As Oklahomans, we are proud to have Senator Inhofe as our senior Senator and greatly appreciate his ability to unite defense related issues across the Oklahoma delegation. As a community we will work meticulously to provide our military partners and the KC-46A team our full support. The Altus community is very proud of their partnership with the base and both appreciate and enjoy the diversity the Air Force brings to Southwest Oklahoma. I look forward to the arrival of the KC-46A team and the opportunity to work with base leadership in such a critical phase for our national defense. On behalf of the citizens of Altus, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate our support of the United States Air Force and training the best airmen in the world.”

The 179 planned KC-46A aircraft are in the first phase of a 3-phase effort to replace more than 59 KC-10s and the Air Force’s primary refueling aircraft for over 50 years, 400 KC-135s. This first phase of tanker recapitalization will complete deliveries in 2028. With more refueling capacity and enhanced capabilities, improved efficiency and increased capabilities for cargo and aeromedical evacuation, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as allied nation coalition force aircraft.

Altus AFB was selected as the prime candidate for the FTU based on key Air Force criteria to include exiting facilities, hangers, runway, and parking apron, as well as ability to provide ground and flight training for all future KC-46A students. Altus AFB should begin receiving KC-46s in Fiscal Year 2016 and begin student training the same year.

The KC-135 and C-17 training and operations will also continue at Altus AFB with no change in throughput.

“Words cannot express the debt of gratitude this nation owes Lt. Landrum,” said Cole. “Many of us will never understand the true price of freedom, but it is because of the bravery of those who wear the uniform that our country is safe and our freedom is secure. There is no greater sacrifice or demonstration of patriotism than risking one’s life to serve in combat.

“We have lost a true American hero and loved Oklahoma son who will forever be missed and remembered by his family, friends and a grateful nation.”

“I am disappointed President Obama and leaders in the Senate have yet to come up with a solution to replace the sequester.

“The House has already acted twice to replace sequestration with commonsense spending cuts that do not unfairly target the U.S. Department of Defense. While our country is still fighting a war in Afghanistan, it is imperative that we prevent harmful cuts to national defense.

“In the Third District we have Altus and Vance Air Force Bases, which both play a crucial role in protecting the United States and keeping jobs in Oklahoma. Our country depends on these military installments to protect each and every American citizen, and we must do everything possible to prevent these automatic cuts from taking place.

“It has been nearly four years since the Senate has produced a budget. I believe at this time when we are facing a national deficit over $16.6 trillion, it is time for the President and the Senate to follow our lead in the House and produce a budget with rational spending cuts that will replace these harmful automatic spending cuts.”

In his opening statement Thursday at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe blasted the Obama administration about its preparation and response to the Sept. 11 attack on U.S. diplomats last September in Libya. Inhofe, R-Tulsa, is the top Republican on the committee. Here is a text of his opening statement, as prepared for delivery.

“Thank you Mr. Chairman. I join you in welcoming our witnesses. Secretary Panetta, this may be one of your final times testifying before this committee—a joyous occasion, I’m sure. You and I served in the House together and have been friends for many years now. Thank you for your long and distinguished career of dedicated and effective service to our country.

“It is long overdue that this committee is holding a hearing to examine the facts surrounding the terrorist attacks in Benghazi on September 11, 2012 that left four Americans dead—Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty. Deaths that I believe could have been prevented.

“What has become clear over the last five months is that the United States was woefully unprepared for what occurred in Benghazi. What has also been clear is that following the attack, the Administration provided the American people inaccurate information about the true nature of the catastrophic events in Benghazi. In my discussions with the most senior administration officials, I’ve been told that on the night of the tragedy, although there was confusion about the nature of the first attack on the compound where the Ambassador was located, the second wave of attacks on the Annex were quote “…unequivocally a terrorist attack…” unquote. This was apparent because an angry mob does not use coordinated mortars and RPG’s.

“Despite this clear evidence, it took this Administration over a week to publicly admit what many of us already knew—that it was a terrorist attack, not simply a protest that turned violent as Ambassador Susan Rice adamantly and incorrectly insisted. While some may downplay this difference, I cannot. Al Qaeda affiliated terrorists were involved in the murder of four Americans, including our U.S. Ambassador to Libya. This fact should call into question the effectiveness of our counterterrorism strategy to date in North Africa and beyond.

“I hope our hearing today will provide the committee with a thorough accounting of the facts leading up to the attack as well as what has been done in months following to ensure such a tragedy doesn’t happen again. In the months leading up to September 11th, there were no fewer than four significant attacks against Western interests in the city.

· On April 10, a United Nations convoy was hit with an IED.

· On May 22, the International Red Cross was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade.

· On June 6, the U.S. consulate was attacked with a bomb.

· And, on June 11, the British Ambassador’s motorcade was attacked with an RPG.

“The British Government understood how dire the situation in Benghazi was at the time and closed their mission in Benghazi on June 12th. The International Red Cross suspended operations shortly thereafter on August 6th. On multiple occasions, Ambassador Chris Stevens requested increased security.

“While I understand that the State Department has the primary responsibility for the protection of American diplomats around the world, I also understand that the Defense Department plays an important supporting role to this effort. I expect our witnesses to explain today why—given the clear indicators and warnings that threats to U.S. interests in Benghazi and throughout North Africa were growing—was the Defense Department not placed on a heightened alert status or adequately postured to respond in a timely manner to a contingency of this nature, especially on the anniversary of 9/11.

“Our witnesses have repeatedly stated that there were no military assets available in the region that could have acted in time to potentially avert this disaster. Why not? The January 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance directs that we will “rebalance towards the Asia-Pacific”, and goes on to say that in Africa and Latin America “we will develop innovative, low-cost, and small-footprint approaches to achieve our security objectives”. Benghazi highlights the strategic risks of this new strategy in places like Africa, risks certain to be magnified by looming defense cuts.

“This committee must get a thorough accounting of exactly what was known and when, what the Defense Department did to respond to the escalating situation in Benghazi, and why it was not better prepared. Additionally, our witnesses should address whether or not the current relationship between the State and Defense Departments is sufficient to meet the security demands of our overseas presence.

“I have made 127 country visits to Africa. What happened in Benghazi vividly illustrates what I have been calling attention to for many years—the growing threat to U.S. interests on the African continent from terrorist groups such as Al Shabaab, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and Boko Haram. General Ham, the commander of AFRICOM, said back in 2011 that terrorist organizations in East Africa, in the deserts of northern Africa and in Nigeria “have very explicitly and publicly voiced intent to target Westerners, and the U.S. specifically.” Secretary Panetta, the same year, you said, “The longer you delay, the longer you avoid trying to assign some assistance there, the more dangerous these groups become and the greater the instability that develops there. There are elements there [in Central Africa] that either have ties to al Qaeda or that represent the forces of terrorism on their own. And that’s what’s dangerous.”

“As bad as everything I’ve stated previously, what is worse is the cover-up. It was obvious from the information we had on September 11th that the second wave of attacks on the Annex was unequivocally a terrorist attack. Despite this information, U.N. Ambassador Rice lied to the American people on all five major Sunday news shows, implying that the attacks were in response to the anti-Islam video that had spurred protests across the region. In this sense, you are the wrong witnesses: unfamiliar with changes made in the CIA talking points; uninformed as to what and who at the White House was briefed on the attacks; and unaware of the fact that this Administration had to know this was a coordinated terrorist attack during the assault on the Annex.