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Congress reviews Air Force budget plans

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Kim Ponders
  • Air Force Reserve Public Affairs
WASHINGTON --  Senior Air Force leaders were on Capitol Hill to testify and answer questions about funding priorities and fleet reductions announced in early March as part of the FY15 Air Force budget request.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) led the hearing at the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. They questioned Air Force and Reserve Component leaders about modernization strategies, divestment, and unit relocation plans in light of the $109.3 billion FY15 Air Force budget request.

Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James began the testimony, praising the "superb total force teamwork" she's seen in her first months on the job. She cited the "challenging times" of today's fiscal environment and stressed that there will be "more reliance on the Guard and Reserve as we go forward."

The FY15 Air Force budget request, which meets funding levels laid out in the Bipartisan Budget Act, would cut the A-10 Thunderbolt II and U-2 fleets in order to continue the Air Force's top recapitalization priorities: the KC-46A Pegasus, F-35A Lightning II and the Long Range Strike Bomber.

James said that a balance must be struck between achieving a "ready force today versus a modern force tomorrow." She added that a return to sequestration levels would force the retirement of 80 aircraft, including the KC-10 tanker fleet.

"It would be very bad," she said.

Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III addressed concerns about the A-10 divestment, stating that in the bigger picture, it made sense for other multi-role fighters to absorb the close air support mission.

"It's about balance," he said. "There are no easy choices left."

Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, Chief of Air Force Reserve, took questions about the movement of 10 C-130J aircraft from Keesler AFB, Miss. to Little Rock AFB, Ark. He explained that moving the Reserve's C-130J squadron to Little Rock, with the two active duty squadrons and schoolhouse, would allow the Reserve to maintain its current capability while decreasing costs.

James also praised the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force for its recommendations, citing only "a couple of areas of disagreement."

In his written statement, Jackson also praised the report but addressed concerns about two recommendations to disestablish Air Force Reserve Command and eliminate its organizational structure.

He stated, "The notion of disestablishing Air Force Reserve Command and inactivating the Numbered Air Forces, wings, groups and squadrons would, in my opinion, undo six decades of lessons learned and result in an unsustainable Air Force Reserve."

He stressed the importance of professional force development in growing leaders for the Air Force, adding that the commission's recommendation "would eliminate leadership pathways to develop our Citizen Airmen, especially for our Air Reserve Technicians and Traditional Reservists."

He touted the Reserve's retention rate--close to 90 percent over the past seven years--and highlighted the Reserve's unique ability to attract "Airmen for Life."