The Air Force plans to settle its 40,000-slot force reduction within the next three years rather than the five years it originally established, according to the Associated Press. That means instead of taking the last cuts in 2011, it will take them in 2009. The Air Force official talking with AP says the service still is wrangling with just which jobs will be axed, but the mix will include active, reserve, and civilian positions. We question whether there will be any reduction in USAF’s two reserve components. The Air National Guard certainly is on record as saying it will take its slice of the budget reduction driving these personnel cuts out of other areas. ANG does not intend to cut airmen until the dust settles on its new mission areas.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.