(Washington, D.C.) - Montana's U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester called a meeting with Director of the Air National Guard Lieutenant General Wyatt today to keep the National Guard Bureau on track to bring the new C-130 flying mission to Montana.

"We made sure General Wyatt understands that Montana is a perfect fit for the C-130 mission and there's no one better to fly these planes than Montana Airmen," Baucus said.  "He needs to know just how critical this mission and the jobs that come along with it are for Great Falls and all of Montana, and I think we got the message across."

"Today's meeting gave us the chance to press the Air Guard to deliver the C-130s to Great Falls as quickly and efficiently as possible," Tester said.  "C-130s will keep hundreds of jobs for Montana Airmen and members of the Great Falls community, and laying out a clear arrival plan will allow for a smooth transition on Gore Hill." 

Baucus and Tester originally secured the C-130 mission for MANG in February.  As the Air Force is now considering the best way to restructure its fleet to meet new mission requirements nationwide, Baucus and Tester are pressing the Defense Department to ensure its deployment plans for Great Falls do not change and vowing not to rest "until the last of the C-130s lands in Great Falls." 

• March 23, 2012 - Tester, Baucus remind Defense Dept: Montana "ideal fit" for C-130s
• March 15, 2012 - Baucus Tester Letter to Panetta, Pressing for Deployment Plan Clarification