Gen. Michael Moseley explained today that the real number of personnel that the Air Force will cut over the next five years may be around 57,000, since the service plans to convert some Guard and Reserve positions to full-time-equivalent status. (That means fewer “weekend warriors” or part time reservists.) The Chief also noted that USAF does not plan to make Guard cuts in 2006 or 2007; instead the service will reduce the active force first. All told, he said, about 80 percent of the personnel reductions will come from the active duty force.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
