No Big Epiphany

The Air Force Reserve is working with Air Force leadership to adapt to the “multi-component, multi-domain approach to the future” that’s laid out in the service’s new strategic vision, Lt. Gen. James Jackson, AFR chief, told reporters at AFA’s Air and Space Conference on Wednesday. “We bring operational capability, strategic depth, and surge capacity,” said Jackson during the media event in National Harbor, Md. The goal is to identify how much of each “bin” the Air Force wants, and what it can afford, he said. Air Force Reserve Command is involved in nearly every Air Force mission set, he noted, and the mission review is uncovering the “big rocks” where Reservists can make a greater contribution. “If there is no ability to migrate capacity, we take it off the table, and move on,” said Jackson. Even though the mission review is a “first cut,” Jackson said Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh has indicated areas such as agile combat support are promising for future AFRC expansion. “There is no big epiphany,” said Jackson of the process, but the Air Force is working to move capability to AFRC in areas where it can make the most sense.