910th welcomes U.S. Sen. Portman for YARS visit Published July 27, 2015 By Master Sgt. Bob Barko, Jr. 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- The 910th Airlift Wing welcomed Ohio’s U.S. Senator Rob Portman for an installation visit here, July 17, 2015. During the visit, Portman met with wing leadership, took a bus tour of the installation including a stop at the firing range which is slated for replacement, viewed one of the unit’s Modular Aerial Spray Systems and walked through one of the wing’s C-130H Hercules tactical cargo transport aircraft. The visit concluded with time for local media outlets to conduct interviews with Sen. Portman and 910th Airlift Wing commander Col. James Dignan. Portman’s office requested the visit to meet with YARS leadership and get an up close view of installation assets and the unit’s equipment including the C-130 and the wing’s unique mission as operators and maintainers of the Department of Defense’s only large-area, fixed wing aerial spray capability. The visit was a follow-up to Dignan’s Capitol Hill Visit in June. During news interviews, the senator touted the wing’s role in national defense. “The 910th is providing a vital capability across the country with their aerial spray mission,” said Portman. “They are controlling insects, clearing unwanted vegetation from bombing ranges and also helped disperse the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico back in 2010. They also air dropped humanitarian supplies in Iraq last year to refugees displaced by ISIS.” He also stressed the importance of equipping the 910th and YARS with the latest equipment. “In order for them to continue performing these missions that are important for our country,” Portman said, “We need to concentrate on getting next generation aircraft, the C-130J, for the 910th.” The senator also said it is important in today’s security climate to invest in YARS facilities such as the proposed state-of-the-art firing range. “The new range will allow area Airmen, Marines and other law enforcement agencies to practice using their full array of weapons and ammunition,” said Portman. “This is critical so they can be ready, because we live in a dangerous world.” Dignan said the wing looked forward to the senator’s installation visit. “We are pleased Sen. Portman accepted our invitation,” Dignan said. “We were able to show the senator and his staff what YARS, the best small installation in the Air Force, contributes to national security and defense.” The wing commander also echoed the senator’s comments regarding recapitalization of the 910th’s aircraft fleet. “Getting next generation C-130Js would be ideal because that will keep us operating well beyond 2020 and probably at least until 2050,” Dignan said. “That will make us viable well into the future and keep us strong for our nation’s defense.”