Air Force Reserve Command plans to bring more F-16 pilots to Shaw AFB, S.C., in Fiscal 2008 to boost its Reserve Associate program with Shaw’s 20th Fighter Wing. An AFRC news release mentions that Shaw is to be home to the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, so establishing an even stronger Reserve presence could be a build up for that new system. The release said only that the move was part of USAF’s Total Force Integration. AFRC commander, Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, said, “Associate units make good business sense because they capitalize on the experience and skills of Reservists, many of whom were on active duty before joining the Air Force Reserve.”
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…
