By Associated Press - Tuesday, January 14, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah National Guard officials are worried that more than 200 people could lose their jobs if the U.S. Army consolidates its fleet of AH-64 Apache helicopters.

The Deseret News reports (https://bit.ly/1alqkaH ) that Utah National Guard Gen. Jefferson Burton says the Army has proposed taking the helicopters away from National Guard units to save money.

They would instead be used by active Army units only. The plan is pending approval from Congress and the U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

Burton says Utah currently has 16 helicopters. Utah National Guard members recently spent a year in Afghanistan doing reconnaissance work. During wildfires season, the helicopters were used to find hot spots.

Burton says the country is better served by having the helicopters spread across the country with National Guard units.

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Information from: Deseret News, https://www.deseretnews.com

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