Even As Air Force Cuts Jobs, MacDill Will Get 27 New Positions

Posted Mar 6, 2012 by Howard Altman

Updated Mar 6, 2012 at 07:52 PM

Though the Air Force is trimming its budget by 5 percent, cutting nearly 10,000 jobs service-wide and reducing its fleet of aircraft, MacDill Air Force Base will actually gain personnel, according to figures released today by the Air Force.

Under the FY 13 Force Manpower Force Structure Announcement released today, MacDill will gain 27 jobs – for a .4 percent increase to 6,823.

The base will gain 14 active duty military, two active duty civilians and 11 reservists, according to Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek. The base will also keep its 16 KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft and its three C-37s jets used for special air missions for high-ranking government and Defense Department officials, according to the announcement.

MacDill officials could not be reached for comment before press time.

Overall, the Air Force is asking for $154.3 billion in the president’s 2013 budget, down from the $162.5 billion the service received in fiscal 2012. The service is also reducing its force by 9,900 Airmen, which will reduce the end strength of active duty, Guard and Reserve to around a 501,000 total force.

Under the Budget Control Act, the Department of Defense is required to reduce expenditures by $487 billion over the next 10 years with a reduction of $259 billion over the next five.