Air Force Reserve Command said Monday that it plans to send letters to nearly 5,000 airmen in individual mobilization augmentee positions this month to review their options because their positions are being unfunded. As part of the overall Air Force drawdown meant to free money to sustain aircraft recapitalization, AFRC will reduce its manpower authorizations by a total of 7,700 positions over the next few years. The 5,000 targeted this month are being given a list of career options. Col. Roxane Towner, commander of AFRC’s Readiness Management Group, said: “The important thing to remember is that this isn’t an end-of-the-road scenario. We have many options available to those who wish to continue their service in the Air Force Reserve.”
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.