Sunday, April 14, marks the 65th anniversary of the modern-day Air Force Reserve. On that day in 1948, President Truman signed legislation to establish the organization. It came about some seven months after the birth of the Air Force as a separate service. Truman envisioned the new reserve component to continue the tradition of “citizen airmen” who were “ready when called upon,” according to an Air Force Reserve release. AFR consists of officers, enlisted personnel, and civil servants “tasked by law to fill the needs of the armed forces” whenever a situation calls for it, states the April 5 release. Over the last 65 years, the Air Force has called upon its Reservists for support in military operations, disaster relief, and responding to humanitarian crises. “Since its inception in 1948, the Air Force Reserve has evolved from a unit-mobilization-only force into an operational reserve that participates daily in missions around the globe,” states the release. Currently, there are more than 70,000 Air Force Reservists. (Washington, D.C., report by Col. Bob Thompson) (Air Force Reserve history webpage)
The Space Force’s small size has limited its capacity to consider what role it will play in future operations on and around the moon. That needs to change, according to Vice Chief of Operations Gen. Shawn Bratton.
