The Total Force Takedown: Air National Guard Chief Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley told the Daily Report that the evolving air and space expeditionary force concept has featured growing “synergy” between the active and reserve cultures. McKinley said, in a Tuesday interview, that the AEF construct has transformed from “unit centric” relationships reminiscent of the Cold War to full integration of the Air Guard and Reserve components. He credited the evolution in successes such as the air strike last month that killed Abu Musab al Zarqawi in Iraq. “We all were part of that operation,” said McKinley. He added that much about that mission “is still classified … but, once that comes to the light of day you will see how integrated our Air Force is—in terms of planes, in terms of people, in terms of mission.”
Dozens of fighter jets gathered at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida last week to kick off one of the service’s biggest air combat exercises despite the government shutdown. More than 50 aircraft and 500 personnel are participating in Checkered Flag 26-1.
