The Air Force will use reservists to fill a need for skilled maintainers as it brings the F-35A online, the head of Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) said Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. James Jackson said Air Force manpower, particularly in active duty and reserve maintenance, will be used to fill requirements at Hill, Luke and Nellis Air Force bases. Air Force spokesman Col. Robert Palmer said Tuesday the service didn’t know how many reservists would be used as F-35 maintainers and that the Air Force wouldn’t know until the fiscal year 2017 budget is released.

F-35A conventional Air Force variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Photo: Air Force.
F-35A conventional Air Force variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Photo: Air Force.

F-35 Program Executive Officer (PEO) for F-35 Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan said in October that an improper level of experienced maintainers in the service could put reaching the Air Force’s F-35A August 2016 initial operational capability (IOC) date at risk (Defense Daily, Oct. 30). The Air Force hoped to free up maintainers as part of retiring the A-10, but that move has been repeatedly blocked by lawmakers.

Jackson’s remarks came at an Air Force Association (AFA) breakfast in Arlington, Va.