By Jake I. Alarid
Past National Commander American GI Forum of the United States
After WWll the Congress of the United States established the GI Bill of Rights which provided opportunities for returning veterans from WWll and later Korea to continue their education among other benefits. Many veterans took this opportunity to enroll in trade schools colleges and universities where they majored in several disciplines such as medicine law business engineering and science.
The timing of the GI Bill provided a wealth of educated professionals to work on new endeavors in the science and high tech industry. Scientific research and development brought forth new ideas and technology that provide us with the technology we enjoy in our modern world today. This includes major technical advances in the aircraft and Aerospace Programs. This is a most important part of our defense in our rapidly moving and competitive world.
Today for veterans returning back from Iraq and Afghanistan the aerospace and defense industry offers many opportunities and is key in creating jobs. Companies like Boeing Northrop Grumman Lockheed Martin and others have provided thousands of jobs across the United States including many opportunities for small business ventures. Many returning veterans have been highly trained by the military in the very skills that are required by the Aerospace industry making them valuable in this high tech field.
At issue today is the bidding and the awarding of a major contract to build a new aerial refueling tanker for the United States Air Force. Boeing is competing against Airbus a European defense contractor to build 179 planes. The cost of this program is estimated to be $35 billion.
The security of the United States of America is paramount to the defense of our nation. The current United States Air Force Tanker Fleet will be 50 years old in a couple of years therefore it is critical to begin manufacturing the Refueling Tanker immediately with new learned technology.
It is estimated that a Boeing contract would produce over 48000 new jobs across the United States. In addition an American contract would manufacture assemble and test the aircraft in the United States without exporting jobs and the security of our nation or our technology to another country.
Conclusion: a Boeing Contract is essential and will enhance the economy advance technology protect our national security create jobs strengthen our military and produce a military aerial refueling tanker built by Americans. Jobs for Americans especially those that include our military and defense are an integral part of our economy and far more important than any cost savings provided by outsourcing our jobs and technology to foreign countries. Our economy and prosperity should be what pays for our military and not savings derived from foreign contracting. Outsourcing our military and defense contracts comes with a far greater cost to our economy and national defense.
As a proud American a USMC veteran a past National Commander of the American GI Forum of the United States a Federally Chartered Veterans Organization I support an aerial refueling tanker built by Boeing by Americans which will include American Veterans.
Jake I. Alarid is a retired engineer from Rockwell International an aerospace company builder of Apollo and Shuddle spacecraft & former Commander of the American GI Forum of the U.S.
