Governor Tom Corbett today released a copy of his letter to Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh opposing elimination of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 55th Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) headquartered in Scranton.
“The recently announced plan by the U.S Department of the Army to reduce the Pennsylvania Army National Guard by more than 10 percent of its force structure by eliminating the 55th Armored Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, is irresponsible,” Gov. Corbett said. “This will leave gaps in our national defense capabilities and our commonwealth response to disaster relief.”
Citing Title 10 and 32 of the U.S. Code, force structure changes cannot be made without the consent of a state’s governor.
“I do not consent to the elimination of the 55th Armored Brigade Combat Team from the force structure of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and urge the Army to cancel this ill-advised reduction,’’ Gov. Corbett said.
A copy of the Aug. 26 letter can be retrieved here.
This is the third letter that Governor Corbett has penned on this issue.
On Jan. 3, Governor Corbett sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel addressing his concerns on the adverse effects of purposed reductions to the National Guard. A copy of the letter can be retrieved here.
On Feb. 28, the governor and members of the National Governor’s Association sent a letter to President Obama opposing potential cuts to the Army National Guard. A copy of the letter can be retrieved here.
For more information, visit www.pa.gov.
