AF releases 2004 realignments

  • Published
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  The Air Force will lose 2,260 military and 2,839 civilian manpower positions, and 1,055 reserve drill authorizations next year, according to the 2004 force-structure announcement released July 23.

Many bases, both active duty and reserve component, are affected by the realignment. In many cases, units will gain aircraft and missions, while others will pare down.

Besides manpower reductions, the realignment formally announces the retirement of the C-9A Nightingale and KC-135E Stratotanker aircraft.

According to Air Force officials, the 20 C-9s are being retired because of reduced-patient movement, range limitations and increasing maintenance and upgrade costs. The aeromedical-evacuation mission will become a requirements-based system using all passenger-capable aircraft.

The service will retire 44 of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command’s 43-year-old KC-135Es next year, replacing them with 24 KC-135Rs from the active-duty fleet. By the end of fiscal 2006, the Air Force will have retired 68 of the KC-135Es.

For the complete list of realignments, visit www.af.mil/forcestructure04/force_structure2004.html.