Brig. Gen. Frank Bruno, Pacific Air Forces director of logistics, told Stars and Stripes that PACAF will eliminate about 1,000 logistics personnel—officer, enlisted, and civilian—as part of the command’s share of the 40,000-personnel reduction the Air Force plans to take over the next four years. Bruno admitted that such a cut will “impact” the command’s capability and productivity. He hopes that service efforts to streamline operations will offset the loss of personnel. Air Force leaders have said they plan to reconsider whether cutting 40,000 personnel is too big a chunk given the planned increase in ground forces, but meanwhile reduction actions around the force are continuing.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.