Whidbey Island Naval Air Station will receive $8.2 million for electronic warfare training and to build a facility to train sailors on extinguishing aircraft fires.

The money was part of $487.7 billion in discretionary funding in the defense bill that President Bush signed into law Sept. 30, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen’s office announced today.

Whidbey and other military bases and veterans services in Washington state will receive a total of $32.6 million. Larsen helped secure the earmark for Whidbey, according to his office.

The Navy will use $6.2 million to build a 4,600-square-foot fire instructional facility at Whidbey, replacing the program’s temporary facilities. All sailors who deploy from Whidbey must learn to extinguish fires on aircraft.

The remaining $2 million will train sailors in electronic warfare at the Navy’s Electronic Attack Weapons School. Located at Whidbey, the school is the military’s premier electronic warfare training facility and where EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler pilots learn their skills.

Electronic warfare is critical in the fight against improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as protecting aircraft from enemy attack, Larsen, co-chair of the Congress’ Electronic Warfare Working Group, said in a press release.

As part of the bill, $25 million will go to Fort Lewis’ 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, McChord Air Force Base and various medical centers in the Tacoma and Seattle areas.