Keeping the Air Reserve Component Relevant
Abstract
The Air Force has developed a 20-year force structure plan that could potentially result in a significant reduction in the number of existing fighter aircraft which reside in the air reserve component. As the Air Force works through the process of retiring these legacy aircraft, downsizing its active component, and bringing new weapon systems on line, it must consider follow-on missions for reserve units losing their flying missions. As it stands today, there are Air National Guard (ANG) units losing their flying missions but still have yet to be aligned to a follow-on mission. This essay will explain how the U.S. Air Force presents its forces to combatant commanders, show the reserve and Air National Guard success in fitting into this system, and address the question of why we have an air reserve component, specifically an ANG. Finally it will present one possible solution to leverage the proven capabilities of the ANG and reserves, which is to keep a major portion of its combat flying wings, specifically fighter units, dispersed throughout the states in the air reserve component.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 22, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA469683
Entities
People
- Howard L. Eissler
Organizations
- United States Army War College