United States Air Force Reserve Handbook: History, Special Operations, Aircraft, UAV, Visionary Leaders and Historic Reservists, Jimmy Doolittle, Jimmy Stewart, Jackie Cochran

Nearly 70,000 outstanding men and women are organized trained and equipped in the Air Force Reserve to take part in combat and support operations in air, space and cyberspace. As a full partner in the three Air Force components - Regular, Guard, and Reserve - the Air Force Reserve is the most cost-effective component. Only 20 percent of our elite cadre serves fulltime with our primary focus on the 80 percent who serve part-time and are mission-ready now. Called Citizen Airmen, Air Force Reservists are capable of serving operationally around the world with little or no notice.

Embedded in the fabric of American life, Reservists are highly experienced with unique skills because of their vast military experience and fulltime civilian careers in their communities and hometowns. Their employment mirrors our society and includes jobs with neighborhood police and firefighters as well as being teachers, doctors and lawyers. "Live locally, serve globally" is often the hallmark of Reserve service.

When Citizen Airmen are not training or performing operational missions - they are not paid by the Air Force. However, like Regular Air Force Airmen, Reservists maintain the same readiness and can respond to any crisis when called upon. This fulltime readiness/part-time cost is an extremely efficient use of taxpayer dollars -especially in today's resource-constrained environment where manpower costs continue to rise.

On top of being cost-effective, the Air Force Reserve is a priceless repository of experience and expertise for the Air Force. Our Citizen Airmen are among the most experienced professionals in the Air Force. Our officers average about 18 years of experience and our enlisted average 13 years of experience, compared to 11 years and 8 years for Regular Air Force officers and enlisted. In fact, roughly 64 percent of our Citizen Airmen are veterans from Regular Active Duty service.
Leadership * Mission * Priorities * AF Reserve Defined * Organizations & Locations * AF Reserve * HQ AFRC * Major Command Structure * HQ ARPC * Individual Programs * Individual Mobilization Augmentees * HQRMG * Air, Space & Cyberspace Missions * Air * Space * Cyberspace * Database * AF Reserve Strength & Depth * Categories of Reservists * Personnel Facts & Demographics * Manpower, Modernization, Military Construction * AFR 2012 * Force Generation Center * Today's AF Reservists in Action * Air Force Reserve History * Air Force Reserve Leaders * Historic AF Reservists * Units by States * Glossary