Schwartz downplays active-duty, reserves rift - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Schwartz downplays active-duty, reserves rift

ORLANDO, Fla. — Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, speaking Thursday at the Air Force Association’s annual air warfare symposium here, tried to play down the notion of a rift between the active-duty force and the Guard and Reserve.

“Through this process of elusive balances and very difficult decisions, the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve worked side by side with all of us in the analysis and the decisions affecting the total force,” he said.

“Together, we made tough calls. Understandably, not always with total unanimity, but we continue to share the common goal — the common goal of ensuring total force viability and vitality, in order to fulfill the surge and rotational requirements of the new strategic guidance; to ensure that the active component retain the recruiting, training and experience base to sustain the total force; and to ensure that the reserve components remain relevant and engaged in both enduring and evolving missions.”

Due to cuts to the active-duty force, the reserve component makes up 35 percent of the total Air Force, compared with 25 percent in 1990, Schwartz said.

“The active component has been cut to the point at which capacity cannot be reduced further without harmful effects to the benefits I just mentioned: readiness, increased capacity and the ability to surge and rotate at a sustainable tempo,” Schwartz said.

He added the active-duty force is solely responsible for certain duties, such as basic training and recruiting.

For a state-by-state look at the Air Force’s proposed aircraft cuts and transfers among bases in fiscal 2013, check out this map.