WASHINGTON –
The Air Force Reserve was formally established April 14, 1948, and Air Force reservists have served proudly and with great distinction ever since.
Today, responding to a variety of threats to our national security and fighting a global war on terrorism, we serve with the same courage, commitment and confidence that defined us in our first years.
Sixty years ago, President Harry Truman envisioned a reserve program similar to one in World War I, where reservists stood ready as replacements during a wartime mobilization.
As we reflect on our esteemed heritage, we must never forget the visionary leaders who shaped the fledgling Air Force Reserve. Generals George Stratemeyer, Elwood Quesada, Jimmy Doolittle and Tom Marchbanks were among the first to vector the course for a ready and relevant Air Force Reserve. Equally, on this occasion, we honor our Air Force reservists who served during Korea, Vietnam and a multitude of crises and contingencies.
The Total Force Policy of 1973 laid the foundation for organizing and equipping our Air Force Reserve to augment, associate and partner with the Regular Air Force.
Our contributions during and since the Persian Gulf War demonstrate that we are integrated operationally. Truly, we have soared past the original Truman and Total Force flight plans and have now reached new horizons in positing a viable force for the 21st century spectrum of threats that is capable of refocusing, reconstituting and recapitalizing without exhausting its people or resources while staying an operationally engaged Reserve.
One of our responsibilities as Unrivaled Wingmen is that we cannot be Airmen just part of the time. To meet future requirements, we will continue to build and sustain this viable force of an operationally engaged Reserve - a force in use every day. Now celebrating our 60th anniversary, we are more than ever essential to the Air Force's ability to fly, fight and win. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)