FY 1987-1992. During 1987, we conducted interviews and administered qualifying level tests (certain specialty skills) to a portion of the 81 percent who reported. Based on those results, we have determined, as expected from our prior analysis, that a majority of the members of the Air Force IRR could be utilized in a mobilization without additional formal training. We exercise mobilization procedures annually, and last year we recalled a sample (9 units, 1412 reservists) of those units that may be mobilized in a Presidential 200,000 contingency call-up. Again, as expected, this exercise demonstrated that the Air Force Reserve remains ready to mobilize at a moment's notice. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS Equipment Modernization Systems modernization coupled with the experience of our personnel equate to desired levels of excellence in Air Force Reserve combat readiness. Therefore, one of our primary goals is to sustain this combat readiness capability by providing our flying units with some of the newest, state-of-the-art aircraft in America's arsenal. We are continuing to upgrade our tactical fighter force during FY 1988 with our second F-16 unit reaching its full complement of 24 production line F-16C/Ds. We appreciate your support in obtaining production line models of the F-16 for Luke AFB, Arizona. However, budget constraints and delay in deactivating the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Nellis AFB, Nevada, are slowing the previously announced modernization of the Air Force Reserve fighter force at other Reserve locations. Three F-4 units previously announced for modernization to F-16A/B in FY 1988 and FY 1989 will now convert in FY 1989 and early FY 1990. The conversion of the remaining Reserve F-4 units to the more cost effective F-16 in the early 1990s must survive the current trend of reductions in defense spending. Any further cutbacks in planned F-16 and F-15 procurement levels will force our aging F-4D/Es to longer service, also seriously affecting our war fighting capability. The foresight of Congressional members in ensuring these conversions has paid handsome dividends. In terms of combat capability, our success with the new fighters has been extraordinary. GUNSMOKE is a highly intense world-wide fighter gunnery competition of the very best in the active force, Guard, and Reserve. For the second consecutive biennial, our F-16 fighter unit at Hill AFB, Utah, produced first place trophies. This year Major Danny Hamilton took the honors as the best Air Force fighter pilot in the world! Along with the first, second, and fifth places in the individual “Top Gun" competition, the Hill unit finished second among 18 fighter wings in the race for overall honors! Due to a Congressional add of C-130H aircraft in the FY 1988 budget, the Air Force Reserve will retire its last C-130A tactical airlifter in FY 1989 -- and not a moment too soon. Therefore, the only C-130As remaining in the Air Force Reserve after FY 1989 are the dated gunships at Duke Field, Florida. The Special Operations Group at Duke Field is manned with 1,000 personnel including 22 well trained and experienced, combat ready crews. These highly motivated people received the only "outstanding" awarded last year by the Military Airlift Command (MAC) Inspector General to a special operations force unit (active or Reserve). The Air Force procurement of the new AC-130U will release active duty upgraded H-model gunships to replace our A-models. Therefore, as the Air Force has alleviated our potential loss of special operations, gunship capability, I urge your support for the AC-130Us in the current budget. The addition of eight new C-130H aircraft for our Milwaukee unit greatly enhances the combat capability of our airlift fleet while lowering overall operations cost. We appreciate Congress' foresight in funding these aircraft and anticipate many years of reliable service from them. In fact, we have validated your confidence in the ability of our airlift units by winning with production line C-130Hs at the annual AIRLIFT RODEO, a world-wide airlift competition. Our Dobbins AFB, Georgia, unit finished first overall in 1986, and in 1987 the Maxwell AFB, Alabama, unit had the highest score for a C-130 in the best airlift wing category. These accomplishments with the new C-130Hs illustrate again that our combat readiness is limited only by the equipment we are operating. While the Air Force Reserve has been a long time partner in the Military Airlift Command's strategic airlift associate program (Reservists flying and supporting active duty aircraft daily), we now have achieved an increased strategic airlift profile at our unit equipped C-141 and C-5 wings. The 459th Military Airlift Wing (MAW) at Andrews AFB, Maryland, completed its conversion to 8 C-141B aircraft last year, the 433rd MAW at Kelly AFB, Texas, will complete its conversion to 15 C-5s in FY 1989; and the 439th MAW at Westover AFB, Massachusetts, which received the first of 14 C-5As last Fall, will receive the remaining C-5s in FY 1989. These strategic airlift unit conversions allow us to operate and maintain these valuable airlift aircraft economically at a low peacetime tempo while maintaining a high wartime surge capability. Our MAC Associate program continues to be another cost effective means to conduct peacetime airlift while training to meet heavy wartime surge requirements. Our mission ready status was clearly indicated in last year's AIRLIFT RODEO, as the Reserve Associate wing at Norton AFB, California, was named the best United States airlift wing. Timely procurement of the C-17 aircraft is the key to the Air Force's conventional force projection capability. For the first time in the history of MAC, production line aircraft are scheduled for unit-equipped Guard and Reserve organizations. The C-17 is planned also for existing C-141 Associate units, in turn releasing those C-141s to modernize Guard and Reserve C-130 units. We support the timely procurement of the C-17. Due to the limited time available for aircrew proficiency training, the Reserve Components must make every minute count toward improving operational capability. To accomplish this, there is a critical need for the development and acquisition of state-of-theart training systems, technologies, and procedures. These include self-paced programmed instruction, part-task trainers, multi-media learning programs, and computer simulation. Last year Congress responded to a portion of this need with an additional appropriation for a C-5 weapon systems trainer at Westover AFB. Shortfalls Although our flying units are well trained and demonstrate excellent combat capability, we need to improve our ability to penetrate enemy defenses. Using appropriated dollars to buy electronic countermeasures pods solves only a small part of the problem. Active and passive countermeasures are crucial to infiltrate the full spectrum of enemy defenses. Currently, we are working a program, made possible by a Congressional add to the FY 1988 budget, to provide limited capability for our fighters and airlift aircraft. We look forward to your continued support as we develop and program systems in these times of reduced defense spending. In the area of combat rescue, the Air Force Reserve currently is operating 13 HH-3 and 5 HH-1 helicopters. These aircraft are getting old and rapidly are becoming unsupportable. Modernization of this system will maintain the effectiveness of these experienced crews and support personnel. Our rescue aircrews, pararescuemen, and support personnel received some of the most impressive awards in the 1987 annual International Search and Rescue Competition (SAREX). A Reserve team (the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadrons at Homestead AFB, Florida, and Portland IAP, Oregon) claimed the best overall SAREX Award. OPERATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS In FY 1987, Air Force Reserve flying units logged more than 220,000 flying hours, flying unit equipped and associate, fighter, tanker, tactical airlift and strategic airlift aircraft. Our flying is not limited to local training missions. In quantitative terms the byproduct of world-wide airlift training is a supplement to the Air Force peacetime mission. The Air Force Reserve contribution to MAC channel missions represented more than 38,000 passengers, 59,000 tons of cargo, and 263 million ton miles. Our unit equipped airlift mission added more than 53,000 hours, 90,000 passengers, and 19,000 tons of cargo. Reserve associate C-9 medical evacuation crews logged 3,500 hours while transporting more than 9,000 patients. The Air Force Reserve made major contributions to exercise activities around the world in FY 1987. More than 32,000 Reservists participated in Joint Chiefs of Staff and Major Command (MAJCOM) exercises (command post and field training). Some of the major events were: VOLANT OAK and PEGASUS'87 in Central America; BRIM FROST in Alaska; TEAM SPIRIT, a Pacific theater exercise; and REFORGER, an all-service deployment to the European theater. In terms of tactical airlift support for these exercises, we deployed more than 37,000 troops, airdropping 14,000; and 4,000 tons of cargo, airdropping 500 tons of cargo and equipment. Our VOLANT OAK crews rotate to Panama and share a commitment with the Air National Guard for direct support to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) unified commander. Last year we flew 392 missions and 847 sorties carrying 8,500 passengers and 2,500 tons of cargo in support of SOUTHCOM requirements. In addition to these exercises, an additional 250 deployments transported 7,000 personnel all this, quite an accomplishment for the citizen airman. In addition to routine training, members of two Air Force Reserve flying units recorded extraordinary firsts last year: An aircrew from McGuire AFB, New Jersey, airdropped the heaviest single load ever from a C-141, a 38,490 pound U.S. Army Sheridan tank. Two F-4 crews from Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, participating in the In conjunction with proficiency training, our flying units are often requested to provide a variety of humanitarian services: Air Force Reserve rescue units were credited with saving 20 lives in FY 1987. A C-141 from McChord AFB, Washington, air-evacuated eight victims of the There are several missions unique to the Air Reserve Components, where our units accomplish remarkable feats with a combination of experience and ingenuity. The Air Force Reserve provides 100 percent of the Air Force aerial spray capability. In one recent example of this mission, our Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio, unit flew aerial spray missions to suppress a potential disease epidemic in Puerto Rico. The Air Reserve Components also provide 100 percent of the Air Force augmentation to the Forestry Service airborne fire fighting. A California C-130 unit (Air Force Reserve) from March AFB loaded a mobile aerial fire fighting system in their aircraft and teamed with the Air National Guard to help contain raging forest fires in Southern and Central California. APPROPRIATIONS The Air Force Operation and Maintenance (O&M) appropriation provides for the dayto-day operating expenses of Reserve bases and units. It includes civilian personnel pay, aviation and ground fuels, depot maintenance, real property maintenance, and supplies. |