The United States Air Force Reserve is a Major Command of the Air Force, established in 1948 as an emergency-only reserve force. It has approximately 67,500 members, with three categories of Reserve and several full-time positions. The Reserve shares many missions with the active duty Air Force and operates in 67 locations with 13 types of aircraft. It provides approximately 65 percent of the Air Force’s medical evacuation capability and performs about 20 percent of the Air Force’s daily missions.
The United States Air Force Reserve is an active duty Major Command of the United States Air Force, working alongside the Air Force to accomplish its mission: the defense of the United States “through the control and exploitation of the air, the space and cyberspace by supporting Global Engagement.” Established as a field operating agency of the Air Force on April 14, 1948 by United States President Harry Truman, the Air Force Reserve began as an emergency-only reserve force. On February 17, 1997, however, following Title XII of the FY 1997 National Defense Authorization Act, the Air Force Reserve became a Major Command of the Air Force. As a result of this change, members of the Reserve work with the same equipment in many of the same missions as active duty Air Force members. Unlike active duty Air Force members, however, Reserve members serve in their home city and can often continue their civilian careers or be college students while in the service.
As of June 2010, the Air Force Reserve had approximately 67,500 members, 23% of whom were officers. Most of these members were traditional reservists serving one weekend a month and two weeks a year. There are three categories of Reserve: Reserve Ready, made up of those Reservists who are combat ready and eligible to be called up for active duty; StandReserve, composed of reservists whose civilian jobs are considered crucial to national defense, who have a temporary disability, or who experience personal hardship; and Retired Reserve, those retired reservists. Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMAs) are Reserve members who serve approximately 24 days a year in various locations around the world. IMAs are usually former active duty Air Force members and serve to supplement active duty units.
In addition to these part-time jobs, the Air Force Reserve offers several full-time positions, including Air Reserve Technicians (ART) and Active Guard Reserve. ARTs, making up over 15% of the force, are members of the Civil Service System who provide daily leadership, administrative and logistical support to the Reserve. The Active Guard Reserve is made up of Reserve members who have been ordered to work full-time in their Reserve job.
The Air Force Reserve consists of 33 flying wings and seven groups under three numbered Air Forces: the 4th Air Force, 10th Air Force, and 22nd Air Force. These forces are under the control of the Air Force Reserve Command and are based at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. The Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command reports to the Chief of the Air Staff, subordinate to the Secretary of the Air Force, followed by the Secretary of Defense and finally the Commander in Chief, the President of the United States. The Chief of the Air Force Reserve reports to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is qualified to testify directly to Congress.
The Air Force Reserve has facilities in 67 locations, including five Air Reserve bases. It operates 13 types of aircraft and, as of June 2010, has been assigned 447 aircraft. It shares many of its missions, including airlift, tanker, intelligence, training, air operations command, bomber, and fighter missions, with the active duty Air Force; in fact, the Reserve performs about 20 percent of the Air Force’s daily missions. Additionally, the Reserve provides approximately 65 percent of the Air Force’s medical evacuation capability. Along with these shared missions, the Reserve operates many unique missions, including aerial firefighting, aerial spraying, and weather reconnaissance.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
