Air Force Fighters

More Reliance on Reserves Increases the Need to Know Their Capabilities Gao ID: NSIAD-94-86 May 9, 1994

In response to reductions in active-duty forces, the Pentagon will likely turn to reserve fighter wings to make up the difference in air power; however, these units generally have older, less capable aircraft and pilots who have been trained less rigorously. More reliance on reserve forces as part of a smaller total force increases the risk that forces will be unable to deploy promptly and accomplish the same range of missions as active forces. The degree of risk will depend on how rapidly hostilities escalate; the enemy's capability; and the reserve force's availability, equipment status, and level of training. Congress may want to have the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve discuss how they intend to minimize the risks from increased reliance on reserve forces. Also, Congress, when debating the appropriate mix of reserve and active fighter forces and requirements for 20 fighter wing equivalents responding to two major regional contingencies, should also consider asking the Air Force to provide indicators of relative capability.

GAO found that: (1) force reductions increase reliance on the reserves; (2) the current strategy regards the reserves as augmenting forces; (3) some reserve fighter aircraft will more likely be needed than others; (4) Air National Guard peacetime initiatives recognize increasing demands; (5) meeting higher expectations may require more operating funds for reserve forces; (6) Air Force assessment systems do not reveal differences between active and reserve fighters; (7) active and reserve air fighter forces do not report against the same standards; (8) reserve units have older, fewer, and less capable fighter aircraft; (9) reserve pilots fly less and are assigned fewer mission taskings; (10) reserves participate less frequently in overseas and joint training exercises; and (11) reserve fighter pilots are less available and take longer to deploy.

Recommendations

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