Air Force Reserve Command officials are not shy about citing budget woes as the reason they must eliminate 7,744 paid positions, beginning in 2008. “It’s not a space or position issue. It’s a money issue,” says Reserve Col. Roxane Towner, commander of the Readiness Management Group at AFRC headquarters. AFRC plans to shift some 15,000 unit reservist billets into new mission areas, which could open options for some reservists whose current paid positions. Others might opt for a non-paid status, essentially earning retirement points.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
