FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFA REAFFIRMS POSITIONS ON RESOURCES FOR DEFENSE AND TOTAL FORCE

Contact: Ladd Everitt at (703) 247-5847 or leveritt@afa.org

Arlington, VA, February 28, 2006 – The Air Force Association (AFA) Board of Directors has reaffirmed the association’s position on “Resources for Defense” and the “The Total Force” through two position papers that were approved following the board’s February 4, 2006 meeting in Orlando. These papers can be accessed through AFA’s website at www.afa.org/AFA_Positions.asp.

The paper on “Resources for Defense” questions the recent Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) process as being budget-driven rather than focused on the capabilities that our armed forces will require to win the Global War on Terrorism and the conflicts of the future. The association notes that defense spending as a percentage of GDP today stands at only 3.9%, far below the level seen during previous wars such as WWII (almost 40%), the Vietnam War (over 9%) and the Cold War (over 6%). AFA calls for a significant and responsible increase in defense spending to allow appropriate recapitalization of the Air Force and the other services.

“The Total Force” paper calls for the Department of Defense to make effective use of the Total Force concept introduced by former Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird. The Air Force Association supports an Air Force of uniformed and civilian members that includes a modern, well-equipped Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that share combat and support missions and equipment alongside active duty forces. The service must take maximum advantage of the individual and synergistic capabilities of the Air National Guard, the Air Force Reserve, and active duty components to create a Total Force that is able to defend America’s interests in the future, both at home and abroad.

“Following the release of the QDR report and the President’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget, the association felt that certain positions in its 2006 Statement of Policy and Top Issues needed to be restated and expanded upon,” said AFA Chairman of the Board Stephen P. Condon. “We are a nation engaged in a ‘Long War’ against terrorists on a global scale. Now is not the time to be shortchanging ourselves on defense.”

“The Air Force Association will be an aggressive advocate for additional funding for members of our uniformed services during the second session of the 109th Congress,” Condon said. “Recapitalizing our force is not an option…it is essential to our national survival.”

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The Air Force Association (AFA) is an independent, nonprofit, civilian organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA has more than 230 chapters nationwide and overseas, and more than 130,000 members. Visit us on the Internet at www.afa.org.