Air Force Reserve Command Commentaries

To the Airmen, Civilians, and Families of the Air Force Reserve Command

Lt. Gen. John P. Healy — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:28:48 GMT

Since my last commentary to the Command, there have been a lot of changes including a new Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. Troy E. Meink, and a new Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen Kenneth Wilsbach.

Operationalizing Retention

Lt. Gen. John P. Healy — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:53:17 GMT

We each have a story to tell as to how and why we decided to serve and more importantly why we stay.

More (Reserve) Air Force

Lt. Gen. John P. Healy — Mon, 19 May 2025 16:16:16 GMT

At a recent engagement, the Secretary of Defense said, “It’s airpower, the next generation of it and our ability to project it that will be the decisive factor in whether or not we truly deter our peer adversaries of the 21st century.” Echoing this sentiment, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force reinforced the SecDef priorities to secure America’s skies, strengthen our global position and keep our enemies off-balance. CSAF calls for focusing Airmen on the mission when we need them, a concept he titles “More Air Force.” And More Air Force is the core of what the Air Force Reserve consistently and reliably offers the Total Force.

Answering the Call, Shaping the Future

Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez — Mon, 19 May 2025 16:13:46 GMT

On 14 April 2025, our Air Force Reserve celebrated its 77th birthday. Since 1948, the concept of a "Reserve" force, ready to answer the nation's call in times of need, has been woven into the fabric of the U.S. Air Force. Our component, however, is far more than a standby force; it is a force to be reckoned with – lethal, dynamic and absolutely essential for projecting American airpower to every corner of the globe.

EXERCISING FOR STRATEGIC COMPETITION

Lt. Gen. John Healy — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:53:40 GMT

The Air Force Reserve has transformed from a force optimized for operational efficiency in a permissive environment to a modernized and effective force organized, trained and equipped to deter conflict and prevail against any adversary.

Partners and Allies: It's a RAPP

Lt. Gen. John P. Healy — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:01:19 GMT

Strategic advantage in Great Power Competition (GPC) relies on having strong relationships with our allies and partners. The Department of the Air Force is focused on sustaining and deepening close strategic partnerships, supporting integration and interoperability with mutual capabilities and encouraging increased exercise engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Comprehensive Airman Fitness

Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:44:32 GMT

Lt. Gen. Healy and I often discuss what it means to have a healthy and ready force. In the last issue of Citizen Airman, Lt. Gen. Healy and I challenged all Airmen to stay focused and do their job as we prepare for the realities of Great Power Competition.

Year Two in Review

Lt. Gen. John Healy and Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nunez — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:45:30 GMT

August marks Lt. Gen. John P. Healy’s two-year anniversary as the dual-hatted commander of Air Force Reserve Command and chief of the Air Force Reserve. Since assuming command, he has released two TASKORDs that detail his expectations for every Airman to own his or her individual and family readiness with an eye to future mission requirements. In this commentary, Healy and his senior enlisted advisor, Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez, take a look back at the commander’s second year.

Our people -- Our Foundation

Lt. Gen. John P. Healy — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:14:14 GMT

Air Force Reserve Command is the most diverse major command in the Department of the Air Force with approximately 80% of our force serving in a part-time status. We execute the full spectrum of Air Force missions, providing strategic depth and maintaining operational readiness to deter our adversaries, defend the United States, our allies and partners, and respond to any contingency – at a fraction of the cost of the full-time members of the U.S. Space Force and regular component of the U.S. Air Force.

Following Through: Building the Enlisted Airmen of Tomorrow, Today!

Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:13:51 GMT

During the 23rd Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Change of Responsibility ceremony, Gen. David W. Allvin emphasized the importance of “following through.” During his remarks, he placed special emphasis on the profession of arms and our warrior ethos.

Improvements coming to Enlisted PME Distance Learning

Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez — Mon, 06 May 2024 22:56:32 GMT

Our Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. David W. Allvin, consistently speaks to the time of consequence in which we are currently serving. To maintain our competitive advantage, the strategic environment demands bold and innovative leadership. Despite the close competition for next generation weapon systems, there is no contest in the area in which our team holds a decisive edge – an elite and professional noncommissioned officer corps.

AFRC Welcomes New Deputy Commander

Lt. Gen. John Healy — Mon, 06 May 2024 22:55:43 GMT

On April 29, Air Force Reserve Command said farewell to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Pennington and welcomed Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III as the new deputy commander. The successful operation of AFRC relies heavily on the deputy commander as he serves as my full-time eyes and ears at the command, executing my priorities.

Great Power Competition Demands a Resilient, Experienced and Accessible Reserve

Lt. Gen. John Healy and Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nunez — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 12:32:03 GMT

The developing strategic environment demands a resilient, experienced and accessible force that is responsive, agile and lethal…all attributes of our Air Force Reserve. “At no time in our nation’s history has the Air Force Reserve advantage of surge capacity and strategic depth been more critical.” These words opened Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Allvin’s, Intent Message to the Air Force Reserve earlier this year. In this Intent Message, the CSAF charged us to prioritize four fundamentals to guarantee success in meeting these strategic demands: Surge Capacity, Strategic Depth, Force Mix Optimization and Warrior Ethos.

Keep Striving For Work-Life Harmony

Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 03:44:36 GMT

Recently, I had what has become a rare, yet cherished, opportunity of taking one of my daughters to school. As I wished her well, it hit me that she has had to move across the United States twice in the past two and half years. Having to uproot, adapt to a new environment and make new friends is not easy for anyone, especially young children. As a loving parent and husband, this moment of reflection allowed me think about the past five months since taking the seat as your Command Chief. I thought about the significant events and challenges that affect all of us who wear the uniform, and what we can do to best balance our love for service and family.

Reoptimizing the Force for Great Power Competition

Lt. Gen. John Healy — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 03:43:01 GMT

In early September, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall charged the Department of the Air Force with reoptimizing the force for Great Power Competition. For those who are new to the term, Great Power Competition, or GPC, describes the strategic environment that focuses on the People’s Republic of China as a pacing threat.

These Lines of Effort are Critical to Enlisted Development

Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:17:04 GMT

The current conditions require the Air Force Reserve to prioritize the Four R’s that I laid out in the previous Citizen Airman magazine: Build a Ready Force, Develop a Resilient Force, Recruit and Retain the Force. This prioritization is key if we are to maintain the advantage against peer competitors, while transforming to meet the threats of tomorrow. To achieve this end, we must take a hard look at how we have developed the enlisted force from inception by asking ourselves, “What are we doing right?” and “What are we doing wrong?”

Ready Now and Focused on the Future

Lt. Gen. John Healy — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:16:39 GMT

This year, we honor the men and women who established the Air Force Reserve 75 years ago. Incidentally, this year also marks the one-year anniversary of TASKORD ’22, which prioritized readiness and transformation. I had the opportunity to reflect on both while meeting with your wing commanders during this year’s Air Force Reserve Command Wing Commander and Command Chief Conference.

The Foundation for Ready Now

Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:16:06 GMT

Upon taking command last year, our commander issued his TASKORD with a focus on being Ready Now and Transforming for the Future. This order was crucial in ensuring that our command was combat ready and constantly prepared to meet an on-demand, complex and ever-changing global mission.

Ready Now! and Transforming for the Future – a Year in Review

Lt. Gen. John Healy — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:15:49 GMT

August marks my one-year anniversary of taking command as the dual-hatted Chief of Air Force Reserve and Commander, Air Force Reserve Command. My first action upon taking command was to release a TASKORD to empower our Airmen to lead and create the Air Force Reserve our country needs to defeat pacing threats.

Thank You and Welcome

Chief Master Sgt. Kristen M. Maloney — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 13:16:00 GMT

Farewell and Hello. Good luck and Congrats. These are just some phrases some of us are saying to our departing wing commander, Col. Craig Drescher, and to our new wing commander, Col. Christopher Lacouture.