The head of Air Force Reserve Command, Lt. Gen. John Bradley, told attendees at AFA’s Air & Space Conference that one of the most common misperceptions he has to deal with when speaking with lawmakers is that the high operations tempo is hurting recruitment and retention. “I’m worried more about losing people from BRAC than with our deployments,” Bradley said, citing six Reserve locations that have had to close up shop as a result of BRAC 2005. He said his folks are working with those Reservists now without units to get them to a place where they can continue their service. And, he is working with Congress on legislation for “continuation of service” initiatives to aid airmen that have been cut from the active force and want to serve in the air reserve components.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.