The Air Force Reserve is a 70,000-member force of “citizen-airmen” providing “an affordable, cost-effective option” for national defense in an era of budgetary constraints, Lt. Gen. Maryanne Miller, Chief of Air Force Reserve, said at ASC16. At a time when “we have the smallest Air Force in our history,” the Reserve provides a “surge-ready capacity” particularly well-suited to the wars of the present, Miller added. Going forward, Miller called for new policies aimed at helping Reservists ”balance civilian life and life as airmen.”
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
