Air Force Nuclear Force Anticipates Budget Constraints

The Air Force Global Strike Command Predicts budget cuts triggered by sequestration will Reduce B-52 flying hours by 10 percent and lead to a reduction in overall 20 percent shoulds hours flying kick in the law on March 1, Air Force Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski said.

Kowalski, the control of Air Force Global Strike Command, spoke to reporters at the Defense Writers Group here today.

The command handles two shares of the nation's nuclear triad: intercontinental ballistic manned bombers and missiles.

The general Said he's satisfied with the command in readiness today, order the fiscal problems Confronting the military in the months and years ahead Would, at best, because readiness to level off or decline.

"As we look at the downstream impacts of Continuing Continuing Both the resolution and sequestration, it's pretty clear there's going to be some degradation there," he said.

The biggest and MOST disturbing impact for the command is on flying hours, Kowalski said.

"We are looking at up to a 20-percent reduction in flying hours," he said.

One defense is to keep the output high count, Kowalski Said, Because The importance of flying hours is not just the time in the air for aircrews. The entire process outputs exercise, he Said, Generating aircraft, aircraft fueling, arming bombs, Recovering the aircraft, the Maintenance of the aircraft and so on.

"All of That is exercised Because that's what we pick up and deploy to a forward operating base," Kowalski said. "What we want to do is count to exit the Maintain Maintain readiness across all of those."

The general Carefully Said he's keeping an eye on issues in the command staff as well. There is an issue with airmen in the missile fields, he Said, noting this is remote and there are duty Concerns about the suicide rate thesis Among staff.

Reenlistment HAS beens not a problem Within Global Strike Command to date, Kowalski said. Part of the willingness to reenlist may be tied to the state of the economy, he Said, and part of it is the young airmen Because believe in the mission.

"All Of Those folks are going to continue to do a great job, goal They need to know what to do And They Need to Know That They Are doing what is important," Kowalski said. "We have beens very active in Reminding Them of the job's importance."

The power structure may change in the command, the general Said, but it does not change the basic task for the command.

"This is one of the Most Important tasks in the military - to make safe nuclear inventory que les Remains safe, secure and effective," Kowalski said.