Reserve Force Suited to Era of Budgetary Constraints

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.”