The Air Force’s manpower and personnel chief, Lt. Gen. Roger Brady, told the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves last week that the Air Force’s “transformation efforts are on target,” and staying there is a matter of making Total Force Integration work. He described TFI as an “inclusive process” that is “critical” to drive the service to solve problems associated with “competing resource demands, an aging aircraft inventory, and emerging missions.” Beyond creating new associate relationships in the field as its cuts personnel, aircraft, and units, the Air Force “is well underway” to integrate its headquarters staff into a Total Force staff, said Brady. He also pointed out that the “debate … is over” about whether there is now only an operational reserve, noting that about 25 percent of each air expeditionary force rotation is Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.