AF Begins More Force Shaping

By: fedweek

As the Air Force ends fiscal 2007 on August 31 with an expected 334,000 airmen on active duty, the service is looking at actions which will reduce it to 316,000 by the end of 2009. This will mean cutting some 4,000 positions in 2008 via attrition, voluntary and involuntary separations. Any further involuntary reductions in force would follow those given this year to some 300 captains and majors. Air Force leaders and some legislators have conjectured that any further cuts might be unwarranted in view of a perceived need for aviation support of an expanding Army and Marine Corps. No hard figures or funding costs for such an option have been provided. Initial force shaping totals, however, were expected to be released perhaps as early as this week.