An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

910th resumes operations following government shutdown

  • Published
  • By 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
  • 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS) and the 910th Airlift Wing (AW) returned to normal operations this morning after the partial shutdown of the federal government ended. The shutdown, which went into effect at midnight on Jan. 20, caused 294 of the unit’s fulltime staff members to be placed on furlough status Monday morning and training operations to cease. Seventy six staff members were excepted from the furlough due to the critical nature of their jobs. Excepted members were mostly firefighter and security personnel.

 

Col. Dan Sarachene is the commander of the 910th Airlift Wing.

 

“We’re glad that this shutdown ended quickly,” said Sarachene, “but even a one-day cessation of operations has an impact on our ability to carry out our mission. It resulted in missed training time and opportunities for our Reserve Citizen Airmen and puts us behind schedule in preparing our warfighters.”

 

Although this shutdown has ended, the federal government is only funded through Feb. 8, and another shutdown is possible if lawmakers do not agree on a budget or spending bill. The uncertainty caused by a short-term appropriation causes difficulty in planning upcoming training and mission requirements due to possible unavailability of funds.

 

“As I said in our last release, a lapse in appropriations puts hardship and uncertainty on our workforce, but it also reduces stability that is critical for readiness,” said Sarachene. “We need a budget so that we can carry out our mission as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

 

Although the shutdown only affected full operations for one day, it resulted in cancelled training opportunities and required some 910th members to return from Air Force schools and classes.

 

The mission of the 910th Airlift Wing is to provide a current, qualified, mission-ready force so the Air Force can fly, fight and win.