Air Force Reservists provide 100 percent of USAF’s aerial spray capability and execute 100 percent of its weather reconnaissance mission, according to the new 2011 Air Force Reserve handbook. Reservists’ contributions to other Air Force missions are as follows: port mortuary affairs (75 percent), aeromedical evacuation (60 percent), aerial port (54 percent), flight inspection (50 percent), strategic airlift (46 percent), aerial firefighting (25 percent), personnel recovery (23 percent), tanker (23 percent), theater airlift (21 percent), intelligence (19 percent), flight training (19 percent), air operations center (15 percent), space (12 percent), AWACS (11 percent), special operations forces (10 percent), bomber (8 percent), remotely piloted aircraft (5 percent), and fighter (5 percent). Air Force Reserve’s authorized end strength is increasing from 69,500 in Fiscal 2010 to 71,200 in this fiscal year, according to the handbook. (Robins release with link to handbook; caution, handbook is large-sized file)
The Pentagon plans to use U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s to deport 5,400 people currently detained by Customs and Border Protection, officials announced Jan. 22, the first act in President Donald Trump’s sweeping promise to crack down on undocumented immigrants and increase border security.