AF Reserve announces revised force structure actions

1/25/2013 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Air Force Reserve Command is moving forward with force structure changes authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2013.

In response to concerns raised by state governors and Congress regarding the FY13 President's Budget submission - and subsequent Congressional marks placing proposed force structure actions on hold the - Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard leadership collaborated to develop one Total Force Proposal.

As enacted into law, the NDAA included the entire "amended" Air Force Total Force Proposal, as well as the retention of additional intra-theater airlift aircraft, retention of the Global Hawk Block 30s, and a delay of the retirement of 26 C-5A aircraft until 45 days after delivery of a new Mobility Requirements and Capabilities Study. It also directed a National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force and limited retirement of B-1 aircraft.

"In a difficult economy, the Air Force has to make tough choices," said Maj. Gen. Craig Gourley, vice commander of Air Force Reserve Command. "These force structure changes will take place over the next three years and are necessary to help meet Budget Control Act of 2011 resource levels."

New Air Force Reserve units authorized by the act include:

· 14th Intelligence Squadron, a classic associate unit at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
· 28th Intelligence Squadron, a classic associate unit at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
· 37th Intelligence Squadron, a classic associate unit at Fort Meade, Md.
· 41st Intelligence Squadron, a classic associate unit at Offut AFB, Neb.
· 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Wright-Patterson AFB
· 960th Cyber Operations Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
· 960th Network Warfare Squadron, a classic associate unit at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland

Other force structure actions authorized by the act include:

· Barksdale AFB, La.--Inactivate the 917th Fighter Group and retire 24 A-10C aircraft and transfer three A-10C aircraft to Whiteman AFB, Mo.
· Beale AFB, Calif.--Inactivate the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron
· Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.--Gain 24 A-10C aircraft from the Air Force in 2014
· Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland--Retire 16 C-5A aircraft over the next three years and gain 8 C-5M aircraft from Westover ARB, Mass., in 2016 (C-5 retirements are delayed until 45 days after delivery of a new Mobility Requirements and Capabilities Study.)
· Westover ARB, Mass.--Transfer eight C-5M aircraft to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in 2016
· Tinker AFB, Okla.--Retire four KC-135 aircraft
· Whiteman AFB--Gain three A-10C aircraft from Barksdale AFB
· Robins AFB--Inactivate the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve
· March ARB, Calif.--Retire one KC-135 aircraft in 2013

The Air Force has convened an intra-theater airlift working group and is using a deliberate approach to develop courses of action to determine the placement of additional intra-theater airlift assets. Additional changes to Air Force Reserve C-130 units will be made based upon decisions made by the working group.