WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Last week, Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, chief of the Air Force Reserve, told Congress that funding shortfalls and aging aircraft are jeopardizing Reserve readiness. This all despite the cost-effectiveness and crucial role the Reserve plays in national defense.
Healy, who also is the commander of Air Force Reserve Command, testified before the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense. He cautioned Congress that inadequate resources could undermine the Reserve's ability to rapidly respond to crises at home and abroad.
"Citizen Airmen are the cost-efficient solution for the Department of the Air Force, providing more Air Force," said Healy.
Healy emphasized that most days of a month, the Reserve operates its installations with only 25% of their total assigned Reserve force. He also highlighted the Reserve delivers mission-ready Airmen at a fraction of the cost of its active-duty counterparts, operating at approximately 30 cents on the dollar.
During the House hearing, Healy identified budget concerns including the ability to pay Reservists and flying hour program funding. The flying hour program is critical for maintaining aircrew proficiency. He explained that last year's $145 million line item to the operations and maintenance budget left the program $26 million short. He stated that current funding levels threaten to exhaust the program by early September, severely impacting aircrew readiness and potentially grounding the fleet.
“Quarterly authority during a continuing resolution doesn’t work well with weapon system sustainment when there are large ticket items like $62 million to put a B-52 into periodic depot maintenance,” said Healy. “These continue to be challenges as we move forward.”
Healy addressed concerns about the future of the F-16s at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida. He cited the experience of Airmen at the 482nd Fighter Wing, and noted it was designated the first Deployable Combat Wing for the Air Force Reserve.
“The current program of record only has the F-16, block 30s, funded through fiscal year 2027,” said Healy. “There is no program of record beyond that to date. We are putting everything we can towards getting F-35s as a potentially recapped item.”
Healy stressed that modernizing aircraft platforms is essential for deterring potential adversaries and preserving the Department of Defense's competitive edge. He cautioned of a significant reduction in operational surge capacity if modernization efforts are not prioritized.
"By 2030, our Combat Air Forces portfolio will decrease from 9% of the total force to just 3%, representing a 44% loss in operational surge capacity and potentially sidelining experienced fighter pilots,” said Healy.
When asked how he feels about the significant decrease in the Reserve fighter portfolio over the last 10 years, specifically the divestment in A-10s, Healy highlighted the warrior ethos of the men and women of the 442nd Fighter Wing. Those Airmen volunteered to deploy one last time in fiscal year 2027 with the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
“While there are no current recapitalization plans for the 442nd, I see the opportunity to provide more Air Force,” said Healy. “An F-15EX squadron, barring procurement, can operate at $24 million cheaper in the Reserve. We can fly an F-16 unit at $12 million to $16 million cheaper per year than the active duty. Each of these opportunities I have provided to my senior leadership and to the programs for consideration.”
When asked about the impact of the hiring freeze on the Reserve, Healy explained the freeze initially blocked 440 dual-status technicians from moving or being hired into new roles, even though they were already employed. After being identified as a major obstacle, these positions were exempted from the Deferred Resignation Program. There have been additional challenges with the Office of Personnel Management posting these jobs to the USAJobs website.
“This will have a direct effect on our readiness as these are instructors, evaluators, and the people that teach our traditional reservists how to get ready for a deployment,” said Healy. “We will see an impact on deployer readiness in the first and second half of FY26.”
The discussion also touched on the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA) and its diminishing purchasing power.
“We have a $1.5 billion backlog on modernization efforts for our aircraft,” said Healy. “They are legacy airplanes, with 88% of our fleet over 38 years old. We typically get between $150 million to $155 million a year in NGREA, which I greatly appreciated. We got $132 million this year. However, we can easily execute up to $175 million to $176 million to get after that backlog of modernization.”
In addition to domestic readiness, Healy emphasized the importance of international partnerships. He highlighted the Reserve Allies and Partners Program (RAPP) and the execution of 28 bilateral engagements with 19 partner nations. He also emphasized the value of these partnerships in building deterrence and fostering collaboration through exercises and force development.
“There's an overwhelming interest from countries in the Pacific on how we do Integrated Defense Logistics for Leadership, a course we run at Youngstown, Ohio,” said Healy. “It’s an advanced base defense course. There's tremendous interest from the Philippines on a professionalized non-commissioned officer corps. Australia wants to do deliberate medical exercises. Canada wants to do civil engineering to civil engineering. We provide, as I put it with the Air Chiefs when I meet them, a virtual buffet of choices with regard to the entire Air Force Reserve and our portfolio.”
Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez, Healy’s senior enlisted advisor and AFRC command chief, accompanied him at the hearing.
Transcripts are available at House and Senate sites and photos on DVIDS.