Tester Introduces Resolution to Honor Air Force on 70th Anniversary

Senator Thanks Service Members at Malmstrom and Montana Air National Guard

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today celebrated the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force by introducing a Senate Resolution to honor the service of Montana’s airmen.

Tester, a Co-Chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus, specifically thanked the men and women who have served at Malmstrom Air Force Base and in the Montana Air National Guard for keeping the country safe.

“The folks at Malmstrom and the Montana Air National Guard go above and beyond to defend our freedoms,” Tester said. “Today we are reminded of their critical mission, their sacrifice, and their service. I proudly have their back as Congress debates important national security legislation to ensure Montana’s airmen have the resources they need to keep Montana and our nation safe.”

Tester received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service from the Air Force Secretary last year for fighting for new helicopters at Malmstrom and critical C-130 and ICBM modernization funding.

Tester secured the funding to replace the Vietnam-era Huey helicopters at Malmstrom with a new fleet of helicopters that are expected to arrive in 2020. Tester also successfully fought to build a new Missile Maintenance Dispatch facility at Malmstrom that will allow for the base to properly house and maintain the new fleet.

Tester led the charge to secure the C-130 flying mission at the Montana Air National Guard and has successfully encouraged the Air Force Secretary to modernize the C-130 fleet with the latest avionics equipment before 2020.

Tester will vote in support of the National Defense Authorization Act on Monday, which includes a pay raise for all service members.

Tester’s Senate Resolution is available HERE.