Air Force Reserve Command activated the 429th Air Combat Training Squadron at Holloman AFB, N.M., as a new remotely piloted aircraft instructional unit late last month, base officials announced. The geographically detached Reserve unit now augments the Active Duty 926th Group at Nellis AFB, Nev., which supplies MQ-1 and MQ-9 flight and crew instructors, in addition to providing test and evaluation to Nellis’ Air Force Warfare Center, according to Holloman’s Dec. 6 release. “Gaining the 429th ACTS highlights the Reserve Command in the RPA enterprise, and our projected growth into a wing with a dedicated RPA operations group,” said 926th Group commander Col. John Breeden. “I’m humbled to lead such a talented group of airmen,” said 429th ACTS commander Lt. Col. Brian Moles. The unit first stood-up at Holloman as a detachment of the 301st Fighter Wing at JRB Forth Worth, Tex., in 2010, before it was redesignated as a squadron on Nov. 19.
When acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth rescinded service-wide “Family Days” last week citing the need to build readiness, he left it up to commanders, directors, and supervisors to decide if they would still permit extra days off. Here’s how Air Force major commands are taking that guidance.