Air Force Eyeing Major Personnel Cuts: USAF officials are considering slashing the service’s workforce by some 30,000 to 40,000 personnel between 2007 and 2011. Naturally word leaked out. According to Air Force spokeswoman Jean Schaefer, the subject is serious enough to warrant a top-level briefing for reporters next week at the Pentagon. “It’s a pretty fluid situation right now,” Schaefer told us Thursday afternoon, saying that she could not comment on speculation that the personnel would be cut to save funds for weapon systems. She said there would be more clarification at the briefing. Watch this space.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
