The Air Force will likely have to resort to involuntary separation efforts to cut manning to authorized end strength levels in Fiscal 2015, Air Force manpower chief Lt. Gen. Samuel Cox told Senate legislators Wednesday. “The Air Force would prefer to reduce the force [over the next five years] through voluntary measures alone,” Cox told the Senate Armed Services Committee’s personnel panel on April 9. Given high retention rates, the Air Force plans to “accelerate” voluntary force management programs in Fiscal 14, he said. In FY ’15, however, the “military end strength reductions will require a more aggressive approach,” stressed Cox noting that the Air Force will add involuntary force shaping, reduction, review, and quality of force boards, on top of the FY ’14 voluntary measures. (Cox prepared testimony.)
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
