The Air Force decided that it would not have to impose an enlisted cut for Fiscal 2007, since it believes normal attrition and a reduced recruiting goal will keep the enlisted force at its target level. During an interview, the service’s force shaping honcho, Col. Phil Odom, told the Daily Report that the service expected normal attrition to trim about 32,000 from its enlisted rolls in 2007. The service already is more than a third of the way toward that goal. USAF also has reduced its 2007 recruiting goal by about nine percent compared to 2006—dropping from around 30,000 to under 28,000.
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.