Upton Lobbies Sec. of Defense For Battle Creek To Host Missile Defense
At least one member of Congress is still fighting for Battle Creek to play host to America’s next missile defense system.
In a press release Tuesday, Republican Representative Fred Upton from St. Joseph announced he had sent a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis, urging the selection of the Fort Custer Training Center as the site of the potential Continental Interceptor Site. In the letter, Upton says Battle Creek is ideal because of its strategic location, and the ease with which Fort Custer could see the system installed.
Upton also says that the area is perfect because the leadership at Fort Custer is strong, and the community wants Fort Custer to become a Continental Interceptor Site (CIS). He elaborates further in the letter;
Operated by the Michigan National Guard and adjacent to the 110th Wing at the W.K. Kellogg Air National Guard Base, Fort Custer is the center of a community with a proud tradition of supporting our military and their families. From the start, community support for the CIS was overwhelming, with backing from elected officials, local businesses, economic development organizations, educational institutions, unions, and residents.
The Defense Department should be making a decision soon on where the missile defense system will be located; Battle Creek is competing with sites in Ohio and New York for the project.