Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) said in a statement this week that Air Force Reserve Command’s 931st Air Refueling Group at McConnell AFB, Kan., would gain 40 full-time positions to offset a maintenance manning shortfall that has plagued the unit for several years. He said: “I have been working with Air Force leadership and the 931st for over four years to address the personnel shortfall at McConnell. I am excited and pleased to see this much needed project unfold and the additional jobs become a reality.” According to the statement, the maintenance shortfall at the 931st ARG, which serves as an associate unit to the active duty 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell, has negatively affected operational readiness for both units.
The Air Force demonstrated that it can operate the remotely-piloted MQ-9 Reaper in long-range flights in the Pacific using limited ground support gear and non-specialist ground personnel. The demonstration provided a boost for its agile combat employment concept, the service said Dec. 7. The deployment required only seven people and…