SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota National Guard Adjutant General Mark Merrill on Sept. 28 urged Sioux Falls business leaders to actively advocate for the stationing of newer U.S. Air Force fighter jets at Joe Foss Field, the home of the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing.
Why business voices matter, Merrill said
Speaking at a luncheon of the Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary Club held at the Military Heritage Alliance, Merrill asked the local business community to deliver a “full-throated” case for the aircraft, arguing that strong local support is a necessary part of any effort to secure updates to the wing’s airframes and mission capabilities.
The 114th Fighter Wing is based at Joe Foss Field, near the Sioux Falls Regional Airport. According to the National Guard unit, the installation supports 450 full-time and 650 part-time personnel who maintain and operate a squadron of 18 permanently assigned aircraft.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Full-time personnel | 450 |
| Part-time personnel | 650 |
| Permitted aircraft | 18 |
Local stakes and potential impact
Merrill’s appeal spotlights the connection between military basing decisions and local economies: personnel and contractors tied to the wing contribute to the labor market, rent and retail demand, and municipal tax bases. While the adjutant general did not lay out a formal campaign or timeline, his remarks were a clear call for civic leaders in Sioux Falls to make a public case for facility and mission upgrades.
- Maintaining or modernizing the 114th Fighter Wing would sustain jobs linked directly to the Guard and to regional defense contracting.
- Newer airframes typically require updated maintenance infrastructure and specialized training, which can mean additional local investment and contracting opportunities.
- Basing decisions are influenced by military strategic needs as well as community support, making local advocacy a component of any campaign.
“Make a ‘full-throated’ case for bringing newer Air Force jets to the city,” Merrill told the Rotary meeting.
Where things stand now
The 114th Fighter Wing currently operates the squadron of 18 assigned aircraft from Joe Foss Field. Beyond the personnel and wingspecific numbers, Merrill’s comments do not include a timetable for seeking newer jets nor an announcement of a formal request to the Air Force or Department of Defense. He made the remarks in the context of engaging Sioux Falls civic and business leaders in conversations about the unit’s future.
Given the routine of federal basing and acquisition processes, any transition to more modern fighters would likely involve multiple steps, including state and local coordination, formal proposals to Air National Guard and Air Force authorities, and assessments of infrastructure needs. Merrill’s appeal frames community advocacy as an early but important part of that broader process.
What residents and leaders may consider
Local elected officials, chamber of commerce representatives and business leaders will face decisions about how to respond to the call for advocacy. Possible next steps include convening stakeholders to assess potential infrastructure needs at Joe Foss Field, preparing economic impact information, and coordinating outreach to state and federal elected officials who influence military basing and modernization decisions.
For residents, the outcome of such efforts could affect employment opportunities tied directly to the Guard as well as secondary impacts in contracting, services and local commerce.
As the conversation moves forward, Sioux Falls leaders and residents will watch for any formal proposals or timelines from the state National Guard and the Air National Guard that would signal the start of a concrete process to pursue newer aircraft for the 114th Fighter Wing.
Reporting for this story included information presented at the Sept. 28 meeting of the Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary Club at the Military Heritage Alliance.
