In the Crosshairs, Again

According to the chairman of the House Armed Services air and land forces panel, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Congress plans to keep tabs on the Air Force as it works through tactical airlift issues, namely its hotly contested plan to shift some C-130 airlifters from reserve units to the active duty formal training unit at Little Rock AFB, Ark. Smith questioned Air National Guard boss Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt last week on whether the reserve components would still have enough C-130s to “meet their training and domestic mission.” Wyatt said he and Air Reserve chief Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, have had several meetings with USAF on the issue and he is now “confident that we will meet a resolution” that addresses state needs and still “save some money” as requested in the 2011 budget. Smith acknowledged this news with: “We will be watching it very closely.” (Smith opening remarks; Wyatt written testimony; Stenner written testimony)