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.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
