Air Force memo outlines sweeping budget cuts

[DonViejo]

Source: AP


BY BY LOLITA C. BALDOR, ASSOCIATED PRESS


WASHINGTON (AP) — Air Force leaders will make sweeping budget cuts in coming weeks, if Congress can’t agree on a budget and billions of dollars in automatic cuts are triggered.

That includes cutting flying hours by nearly 20 percent and preparing for a possible end to all noncombat or critical flights from late July through September, according to an Air Force memo obtained by The Associated Press.

In the memo, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley laid out broad but grim steps the service will be taking to enforce a civilian hiring freeze, cancel air show appearances and flyovers, and slash base improvements by about 50 percent.

The Pentagon is facing cuts of nearly $500 billion over a decade, and $110 billion in cuts to military and domestic programs would take effect in March if no agreement is reached.

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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/01/11/air_force_memo_outlines_sweeping_budget_cuts/

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. Since force levels are not going to be cut by direction of the President, others places are going

hurt badly. It will be measured in jobs.

[Historic NY]

2. The F-35 should be looked at....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11792169#post1

[Joey Liberal]

3. The AF is top heavy with Generals and Colonels

That's where they should start with any cutting. Air shows are a waste of money too.

[loudsue]

4. Why aren't they taking these measures as a matter of ongoing policy???

ALL military spending....every single flight....every bullet....ALL military spending needs to be looked at. THIS is where there is TREMENDOUS waste of our tax dollars.

[Owl]

5. My thoughts exactly!

[Plucketeer]

6. I enlisted in the AF in 1963

From what I can discern, it's a vastly different operation now than it was then. Now - menial stuff that we fresh recruits used to do IN ADDITION to our regular duties is contracted out to civilian firms. I keep asking myself: WTF? Hell - maybe the whole damned operation (all branches) needs to be privatized! At least if there were corporate heads to hold accountable - THAT would be progress. As it is NOW, there's NO accountability at the top. Our federal govt. has NO stomach for confrontation OR what hearings might reveal about THEIR OWN failings! As it is now, EVERYONE's practicing industrial grade CYA lest they suffer being accused of letting their responsibilities slip. The end result is WE (the people) aren't buying security - we're buying insurance that would protect our representatives if it came to where they looked like they'd dropped the ball.