The Air Force expects to boot involuntarily only 3,000 airmen under its planned cut of 40,000 authorizations over the next three years, officials report in the service’s new Web-based communications tool called “Roll Call.” Aimed at providing the straight skinny on topical issues, the latest missive discusses the basis for current force shaping and balancing efforts. So far, the service has “achieved about 15,000 losses using primarily voluntary programs,” states Roll Call. It goes on to note the service needs “about 30,000 more people” to leave for the service to meet its end strength goal of 315,000 by Fiscal 2009. These personnel losses are going to pay for aircraft recapitalization. At the same time, the service is rebalancing its airmen from overmanned fields into undermanned fields.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.