The Military Coalition’s Guard and Reserve Committee again is asking Congress to lower the reserve retirement age because the “vintage” retirement system does not recognize the “increase in service and sacrifice of Guard and Reserve service members” under the Operational Reserve Policy. TMC, comprising 35 military and veteran service organizations, including the Air Force Association, also wants to ensure a continuum of health coverage options for the Guard and Reserve. In all, TMC has about 10 items on its 2007 agenda to better conditions for the Guard and Reserve, including increasing end strengths and improving readiness.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.