The Air Force and Army National Guard have built a strong partnership since the Air Force became an independent service 64 years ago, but the age of flat-lining and maybe even declining budgets is likely to “create tension” between the two services over resource allocation, said Gen. Craig McKinley, National Guard Bureau chief. That’s something the nation cannot afford to let happen, McKinley said Friday at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla. “As we move into leaner times, our partnership will be tested,” he said. He added, “It has to be our goal to create one team that will emerge through these challenges more efficient and better suited to meet the needs of tomorrow.”
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.