Force structure changes hit 52nd Fighter Wing Published Feb. 17, 2012 By Staff Reports 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDHALEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz announced detailed force structure changes to take effect in Fiscal Year 2013 at a press conference at the Pentagon Feb. 3. The Air Force will cut 286 aircraft to include 123 fighters, 133 mobility aircraft and 30 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. Among the fighter aircraft that will be retired are 102 A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, and this reduction includes the A-10s of the 81st Fighter Squadron. According to the USAF Force Structure Changes: Sustaining Readiness and Modernizing the Total Force white paper, [Air Force leadership] has accepted the risk in our Combat Air Forces by retiring or reclassifying aircraft from seven squadrons: five A-10 squadrons, one F-16 squadron and one training/support coded F-15 Aggressor squadron. "There are still going to be 246 A-10s left in the inventory," Schwartz said. "We are doing close-air support with B-52s, with B-1s, certainly with F-16s and F-15s and AC-130 gunships." The bottom line, he said, is there are plenty of assets that can deliver pinpoint close-air support. "The United States Army and the United States Marine Corps and our own battlefield Airmen can rely on having plenty of close-air support provided by the United States Air Force from above," the general said. These force structure changes mean a reduction of 9,000 Airmen - 3,900 active duty, 5,100 Air Guardsmen and 900 Air Force Reservists. Officials expect all these reductions can be made voluntarily. Even though the Panthers have been identified as the overseas A-10 squadron to be retired, Col. Chris Weggeman, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, says the future of Spangdahlem AB still remains bright. "As a service, we've been opening and closing squadrons for more than 60 years in response to the demands of time, and our base has weathered these storms along the way," he said. The colonel also stressed that regardless of the type and number of aircraft assigned to the wing, "we have a massive capacity to provide ready and responsive combat power around the globe as recently demonstrated during Operation Odyssey Dawn." The colonel equated the change to a smart tablet or phone with a robust capacity to support people during their daily lives by adding and subtracting a multitude of "apps" to meet individual needs. "Spangdahlem will continue to be that smart tablet or phone," he said. "What the Air Force will continue to do is change the 'apps' we're running to ensure the greatest capability and capacity exists for us to achieve enduring mission success. "The mighty Saber nation remains a strong and vital part of our U.S. Air Forces in Europe arsenal in the Eifel thanks to the dedication, strength and flexibility of our German-American friendship ... dare I say no one comes close!" For more information on service changes or the Fiscal Year 2013 budget announced Feb. 13, visit http://www.af.mil or http://www.spangdahlem.af.mil. (Editor's Note: Information used in this article came from Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service.)