The Air Force’s top personnel officer told lawmakers Thursday that although the service plans to “reassess” where it ends up in terms of end strength, “we’re not asking for a change in the cycle.” Appearing before the House Armed Services military personnel panel, Lt. Gen. Roger Brady, explained that the 2008 budget proposal includes personnel cuts that will take the service to 316,000 active duty airmen. “We’re on the path to 316,” said Brady, adding that this summer service leaders will be “looking at where we go in ’09.”
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.