The Air Force on Thursday released its plan to implement the force structure changes mandated by Congress in the Fiscal 2013 defense authorization act. The legislation directed the Air Force to reduce its force structure by 122 aircraft and approximately 6,100 military billets across the Active Duty component, 65 aircraft and some 1,400 military billets from the Air National Guard, and 57 aircraft from the Air Force Reserve, according to the service’s March 28 release. This includes completing actions approved in previous years, states the release. Included in the 12-page implementation plan is a state-by-state description of the changes for each Air Force base and the associated timeline. “Our Air Force continues efforts to maximize the strength of our Total Force, and we are pleased with the progress that is being made on this front,” said Air Force Secretary Michael Donley in the release. “This implementation plan illustrates the Air Force’s continued commitment to transparency as it completes the force structure requirements directed and authorized by the [legislation],” he added. (See also Defense Authorization Conference Report Concluded and Air Force Announces Intratheater Airlift Decisions.)
“Military history shows that the best defense is almost always a maneuvering offense supported by solid logistics. This was true for mechanized land warfare, air combat, and naval operations since World War II. It will also be true as the world veers closer to military conflict in space,” writes Aidan…