The Air Force will create active associations with every Air Force Reserve fighter squadron in the coming years as it looks to cut costs and maximize capabilities, said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on Thursday. At the same time, Air Mobility Command intends to utilize associations at all future KC-46 tanker units located inside the continental United States, he said at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla. Air Force leaders have said they plan to bump the number of associations from 100 to 115 across the Fiscal 2013-2017 future years defense program. Secretary Michael Donley has said there may be even more room for growth with associations beyond that.
An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing crashed during a training mission in Michigan on Sept. 17. The fighter's sole pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a local hospital.
