The Air National Guard unit to become the first “reserve associate” will have an initial cadre of airmen begin work next month with an Air Force Reserve Command unit at Tinker AFB, Okla., reports Reservist Lt. Col. Rich Curry. Already the commanders of the two units have come together for a dual-command KC-135 tanker mission. The Oklahoma ANG’s 137th Airlift Wing is losing its C-130s (a BRAC 2005 action) and will share operating and maintaining duties on KC-135 tankers belonging to AFRC’s 507th Air Refueling Wing.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David R. Wolfe recently pledged “a plus-up in manpower” for the maintainer ranks, as the service prepares to launch a major overhaul of its maintenance career field next year.