The Air Force asked the Air National Guard to cut “approximately 14,000” people from its 107,000 force, according to CMSgt. Richard Smith, ANG’s top enlisted man. Instead, as Guard leaders already have said, Smith told attendees at the Airlift/Tanker Association convention in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 31, that ANG decided to cut things rather than people. The monetary impact facing ANG is “close to $1.8 billion,” acknowledged Smith.
Back from a Thanksgiving week recess, the push to pass the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act hit another snag Nov. 29, as the Senate voted against ending debate on its version of the bill. At the same time, Congress is staring down a Dec. 3 expiration date for its continuing…