Thomas K, I don’t normally ‘participate’ in this manner, but will speak to your comments, since it is my letter.

You are correct, the economy is not the only consideration.  The principal consideration is that those are real people in those jets, not third-party abstracts.  Though Naval Aviators make it look routine, carrier aviation is an unforgiving process of systematic risk reduction, fraught with peril. Representative settings and quality training environments matter very much.  Also, Navy people matter very much.  NASWI is one of the Navy’s favorite bases to settle, raise families, and retire.  Personnel put up with considerable hardship (stationed alone elsewhere, or via long commutes to other PNW bases) to keep their families located here.