Military Spending Cuts Loom as Congress Makes No Decisions to Avoid Sequestration

Eighty-five billion dollars in spending cuts are set to take place if congress does not act soon to avoid sequestration and automatic budget cuts.

And if an agreement on spending cuts is not made by March 1^st, the bulk of the cuts will come in the military.

The spending cuts set to take place will directly effect the Air Force's readiness, modernization and workplace.

And that includes training missions at bases such as Sheppard.

Students are in training at Sheppard Air Force Base.

Learning skills they need to fly and maintain aircraft, but unless congress acts soon on mandatory budget cuts, Sheppard's mission will be impacted.

'We can expect some advanced courses will be stopped delayed, postponed, or canceled, so we will see impact at Sheppard," said George Woodward, the SAFB Public Affairs Director.

But Woodward said Sheppard might not be affected as much as many other bases.

Since Sheppard is a "pipeline training base," instructing Air Force students in their specialties, they're main mission wouldn't have to be compromised.

"They'll have to keep people flowing in because people will retire and they will get out of the air force," said Tom Whaylen, the President of Sheppard Military Affairs Committee.

Military officials are still bracing for the worst, but Woodward said that's something that's difficult to do.

"There is still a lot we don't know at this point. So we are waiting to see what happens, we are hopeful that sequestration can be avoided all together," Woodward said.

That way airmen can remain lined up-, ready to graduate after completely their training at Sheppard.

City officials say with such a large military population in Wichita Falls anytime Sheppard is affected by cuts, so is the local economy.