CMSAF Gerald Murray told airmen in Honduras during a swing through US Southern Command that they, personally, had little to fear as USAF cuts 40,000 to 50,000 from its rolls. Why? According to Murray, airmen such as those at Soto Cano Air Base are “the people we need. … You are the ones who can deploy.” Murray said that there are “6,000 people in the Air Force who aren’t able to deploy worldwide.” He said that the final numbers were not set, and indicated that the “tough decisions” lay ahead. One question is whether the service can “afford to keep that airman [who cannot deploy].” Our bet: They will go.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
