Air Force Officials Release Budget Request for 2009

US Air Force, WASHINGTON: As part of the president's fiscal 2009 budget, the Air Force officials are requesting Congress' approval for $143.9 billion, nearly more than $9 billion more than in fiscal 2008. Of the $143.9 billion request, $117 billion are funds directly controlled and managed by the Air Force. The remaining $26.9 billion funds the Air Force portions of the defense health program, special operations forces and intelligence programs. 
 
“The 2009 budget carefully balances our resources to best carry out the Air Force mission,” said Maj. Gen. Larry O. Spencer, deputy assistant secretary for budget at the Pentagon. “This budget request honors our commitment to take care of our people, sustains readiness to support today's fight, takes some measured risk in infrastructure, and focuses on our top five acquisition priorities.” 
 
The budget is divided into four primary areas: people, readiness, infrastructure, and modernization, General Spencer said. 
 
Taking care of people is one of the top Air Force priorities, and according to the plan, $37.6 billion will go toward personnel programs including a 3.4 percent pay raise for military and a 2.9 percent increase for civilian employees. An additional 4.9 percent increase for housing allowance, and $628 million for recruiting, retention and special pays are also part of the plan. 
 
“We met our 2007 recruiting goals and are on track to meet 2008's goals,” General Spencer said. “In the 2009 budget, we're dedicating more money to recruiting and retaining hard-to-fill specialties such as medical, pararescue and certain enlisted critical skills.” 
 
Readiness, which includes operations and maintenance, accounts for $33.2 billion of the 2009 budget. 
 
“Most of the money spent on a base comes from the readiness account,” General Spencer said. “It funds all flying operations, aircraft maintenance and repairs, training–all the day-to-day operations on 84 installations worldwide.” 
 
While the readiness request is about $3.7 billion more than the previous year, $2.1 billion of that will pay for the increased cost of fuel, utilities and contracts. The budget also provides about $88 million for alternative fuel and energy conservation efforts. 
 
The only area to see a decline in the 2009 budget is infrastructure. Air Force leaders are asking for $5.2 billion, compared to $5.6 billion appropriated in fiscal 2008. 
 
“We are taking a bit of a risk in military construction, but it's a conscious risk,” General Spencer said. “The good news for Air Force members is we will eliminate inadequate housing overseas by the end of 2009 and continue to support family housing privatization.” 
 
To date, housing privatization has been a valuable tool in eliminating inadequate housing at Air Force installations within the Continental U.S., a goal of the fiscal 2008 budget. Privatization also allows the Air Force to provide Airmen upgraded housing sooner than the traditional military construction process. 
 
According to the budget, the Air Force will only fund 54 military construction projects in fiscal 2009, compared to 121 appropriated in fiscal 2008. While money will go towards upgrading or constructing facilities such as office buildings, training facilities and gymnasiums, the focus will primarily be on providing facilities and hangars for new missions, General Spencer said. 
 
These new missions, including the procurement of several new space and weapon systems, are part of the $41 billion modernization portion of the 2009 budget. 
 
“Preparing for tomorrow's challenges is also an Air Force priority. Air superiority is not handed to anyone, and we must ensure we maintain control of the air today and in the future,” the general said. “The average age of our aircraft is 24 years old, with some approaching 50. Thirteen percent of our fleet is grounded or restricted. Due to the stress and strain of years of flying, many of our aircraft can no longer perform at the capability for which they were designed. We must modernize our weapons systems.” 
 
The budget focuses on the Air Force's top five acquisitions priorities including the development of a new tanker to replace the KC-135 Stratotanker, a new Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter to replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk, new space systems, F-35A Lightning II fighters, and the new bomber. 
 
“Modernization is a challenge in a resource-constrained environment, but we don't want to inch along,” General Spencer said. “Other countries are producing advanced aircraft and weapons systems that put our fourth-generation aircraft at risk. We get thousands of cyber attacks daily, and other countries have proven they have the ability to attack our space assets.” 
 
The Air Force is making progress in modernization, just not at a fast enough rate, General Spencer said. In 2009, the Air Force plans to purchase 93 new aircraft–52 of which are unmanned aerial vehicles–six space systems, and other weapons systems, missiles and munitions. 
 
“We will also improve our space systems by supporting the delivery of five new systems, building on current space protection capabilities and investing in future systems,” he said. “Although we don't have money specifically dedicated to our cyber entity in the budget, we are in the process of identifying the capabilities of our Cyber Command Provisional, and may move money to centralize resourcing cyber capabilities.” 
 
In the coming months, Congress will review the proposed budget, and once approved, it is scheduled to be enacted by fiscal 2009.