Commentary: A note from the commander on force structure changes

  • Published
  • By Col. Hubie Hegtvedt
  • 442d Fighter Wing
WHITEMAN AFB, Mo --  I want all of our Airmen to have the most accurate, up-to-date information regarding the force structure changes identified in the FY 15 President's budget announcement. Although subject to change pending the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which specifies expenditures of the DoD, this is the current plan. Specific to our wing, this is part of the announcement:

Whiteman AFB, Mo. - Retire 27 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and replace them with 21 F-16 Fighting Falcon (Block 40) aircraft in the 442d Fighter Wing, tentatively scheduled for 2018.

Moody AFB, Ga. - Inactivate the 476th Fighter Group, an A-10 Thunderbolt II classic associate unit.

The command recognizes the valuable contributions of our personnel and is in the process of developing an initiative that will inform and educate the workforce. AFRC has established a Straight Talk page on its website, http://www.afrc.af.mil/library/str8talk/index.asp, to provide information, resources and links to help Reservists affected by force structure adjustments. Additionally, the Wingman Toolkit (http://afrc.wingmantoolkit.org/) is intended to help Reservists help
themselves and each other in times of stress.

At the end of this message, I've included a public release statement from HQ AFRC regarding the Defense budget proposal changes to Air Force Reserve units.

I've also attached a one-page document titled "Total Force Proposal-15 Adjustments" that outlines the state-by-state impact of the President's budget request. These are challenging time for our country, our Air Force and our Wing. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of detail regarding implementation, but I will keep you updated as information becomes available. Thank you for your patience, positive attitude, and above all, thank you for your service.

NATO

HUBERT C. HEGTVEDT, Col, USAFR


-------------------------- HQ AFRC statement ------------------

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. - The Department of Defense budget request for
fiscal 2015 includes a number of proposed changes for the Air Force Reserve.

If enacted into law, the DOD budget request would increase the number of
Reserve fighter wings equipped with F-16 fighters, create a classic
associate B-1 bomber group, increase the number of Reserve KC-135 tankers,
inactivate the Reserve airlift wing at Pope Field, N.C., retire the A-10
fighters, and inactivate the Reserve's E-3 AWACS classic associate group.

"These force structure changes are significant, but they ensure the Air
Force Reserve remains an integrated, flexible and combat-ready force," said
Brig. Gen. William "Buck" Waldrop, director of plans, programs, requirements
and assessments for Air Force Reserve Command.

"Maintaining the appropriate active-Reserve force mix is critical to
sustaining Air Force forward presence, rapid response, and high-rate
rotational demands within a smaller force, and analysis of force mix must
consider the three components as a complete system," he said.

Major changes in Air Force Reserve structure include:

. Beale AFB, Calif. - Add eight KC-135 Stratotankers to the 940thWing and
inactivate the 583rd RED HORSE Squadron
. Dyess AFB, Texas - Activate a B-1B Lancer classic associate group
. Whiteman AFB, Mo. - Retire 27 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and replace
them
with 21 F-16 Fighting Falcon (Block 40) aircraft in the 442d Fighter Wing,
tentatively scheduled for 2018
. Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. - Retire 28 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and
replace them with 21 F-16 Fighting Falcon (Block 40) aircraft in the 924th
Fighter Group, tentatively scheduled for 2019
. Travis AFB, Calif. - Convert four C-5 Galaxy aircraft from the active
inventory to the back-up inventory
. Little Rock AFB, Ark. - Convert Detachment 2, 22nd Air Force to the 913th
Airlift Group equipped with 10 C-130J Hercules aircraft
. Peterson AFB, Colo. - Reduce the number of C-130H Hercules from 12 to
eight in the 302nd Airlift Wing
. Dover AFB, Del. - Convert four C-5 Galaxy aircraft from the active
inventory to the back-up inventory
. March ARB, Calif. - Inactivate the 4th Combat Camera Squadron
. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii - Inactivate the 624th Security
Forces Squadron
. Barksdale AFB, La. - Inactivate the 307th RED HORSE Squadron
. Keesler AFB, Miss. - Inactivate the 403rd Civil Engineer Squadron
. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska - Inactivate the 477th Civil
Engineer Squadron and 477th Security Forces Squadron
. Joint Base Andrews, Md. - Inactivate 459th Security Forces Squadron and
459th Civil Engineer Squadron, but retain the EOD flight
. Joint Base Charleston, S.C. - Convert eight C-17s from the primary
inventory to the back-up inventory
. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. - Convert eight C-17s from the primary
inventory to the back-up inventory
. Pope Field, N.C. - Inactivate the 440th Airlift Wing
. Tinker AFB, Okla. - Add four KC-135 Stratotankers to the 507th Air
Refueling Wing and inactivate the 513th Air Control Group, an E-3A AWACS
classic associate unit
. Moody AFB, Ga. - Inactivate the 476th Fighter Group, an A-10 Thunderbolt
II classic associate unit
. Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, Penn. - Inactivate the 911th Civil
Engineer Squadron
. Minneapolis Air Reserve Station, Minn. - Inactivate the 934th Civil
Engineer Squadron, but retain the EOD Flight

The proposed authorized end strength for the Air Force Reserve in fiscal
year 2015 is expected to decrease 4.7 percent from 70,400 to 67,100
authorized Reservists.

"The vast majority of our people serve locally on a part-time basis, and
force structure changes pose significant challenges for Reservists," said
Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, commander of Air Force Reserve Command. "I will
ensure that Reserve leaders at every level are doing everything they can to
help Reservists through the transition."

----------------------- End AFRC statement ----------------------