The Air Force and Army National Guard have built a strong partnership since the Air Force became an independent service 64 years ago, but the age of flat-lining and maybe even declining budgets is likely to “create tension” between the two services over resource allocation, said Gen. Craig McKinley, National Guard Bureau chief. That’s something the nation cannot afford to let happen, McKinley said Friday at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla. “As we move into leaner times, our partnership will be tested,” he said. He added, “It has to be our goal to create one team that will emerge through these challenges more efficient and better suited to meet the needs of tomorrow.”
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.