March 16, 2006

The Air Force Reserve's 917th Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base will
officially welcome seven A-10 aircraft Tuesday, the base's major gain from
the most recent Base Closure and Realignment decision.

The airplanes and associated personnel will come to the local base from a
sister Reserve unit, the 926th Fighter Wing, based at the Naval Air Station
Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. Many of the airplanes, pilots and support
crew spent several months at Barksdale in late 2005 following evacuation due
to Hurricane Katrina.

An informal reception welcoming the airplanes and personnel will be held on
the Barksdale flight line.

The BRAC decision was confirmed by headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command
officials on Jan. 20. The New Orleans reserves center is the first Air Force
Reserves Command wing affected by the most recent base closure and
realignment.