More than 1,600 Air Force Reservists have received or will receive a waiver to stay on active duty after Sept. 30, Air Force Reserve Command said in a release Aug. 6. About four years ago, Reserve airmen through the rank of colonel received permission under changes enacted in the Fiscal 2005 defense authorization legislation to serve up to 1,095 man-days of the previous 1,460 days in a rolling four-year calendar. But a waiver is required to serve for more than 1,095 days within that period. Already AFRC headquarters has received more than 2,200 requests from Reservists wishing to stay beyond the 1,095 days. The top three specialties in which airmen are requesting waivers are security forces, civil engineering, and aerial port, AFRC said.
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.
