More than 1,600 Air Force Reservists have received or will receive a waiver to stay on active duty after Sept. 30, Air Force Reserve Command said in a release Aug. 6. About four years ago, Reserve airmen through the rank of colonel received permission under changes enacted in the Fiscal 2005 defense authorization legislation to serve up to 1,095 man-days of the previous 1,460 days in a rolling four-year calendar. But a waiver is required to serve for more than 1,095 days within that period. Already AFRC headquarters has received more than 2,200 requests from Reservists wishing to stay beyond the 1,095 days. The top three specialties in which airmen are requesting waivers are security forces, civil engineering, and aerial port, AFRC said.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.