TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The Governor's Military Council is preparing to make the case for maintaining the presence of the armed forces in Kansas ahead of likely cuts in defense spending.

At a meeting Wednesday, the council focused on the potential loss of spending and personnel at Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth and McConnell Air Force Base. The Department of Defense projects cutting 114,000 personnel nationwide by 2021.

The council is also watching the competition among states to house the new KC-46 air refueling tanker. The Air Force announced earlier this month that McConnell and Topeka's Forbes Field were finalists. Decisions on where to base the tankers are expected later this year.