WASHINGTON -- Air Force Reserve Command will operate with a smaller force in 2008.
The fiscal 2008 Defense Appropriations Act signed by President George W. Bush Nov. 13 funds an end-strength of 67,500 reservists. Last year the projected end strength was 74,900.
The new legislation also approves 9,999 full-time air reserve technicians and 2,721 full-time Active Guard and Reserve reservists.
The defense bill provides DOD with nearly $460 billion in discretionary funding and funds a 3.5-percent, across-the-board military pay raise for active and reserve forces.
From this act, AFRC receives about $1.36 billion for its reserve personnel appropriation and about $2.82 billion in operation and maintenance funds to run the command.
The amount for military construction funding will be finalized when the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs bill is passed. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)