Wicker to Oppose 155th Elimination

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker says he will fight the Obama administration’s proposal to eliminate the Mississippi National Guard’s 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Tupelo.

The Department of Defense’s proposal to dissolve the National Guard unit also would remove Apache attack helicopters from the combat team’s aviation facility in Tupelo.

Wicker tells a local newspaper action must be taken to protect the units before the government’s fiscal year ends Sept. 30.

Wicker supports creation of an independent national commission to analyze President Barack Obama’s budget recommendations to restructure the Army’s active-duty and reserve facilities.