Editor\u2019s note: This story was updated March 29 at 3:30 p.m. to clarify inconsistencies in data provided by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Department of the Air Force.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Air Force plans to cut nearly 6,000 military billets in fiscal 2023 as it looks to retire more of its mainstay combat aircraft, according to the Biden administration\u2019s new budget request released Monday. But it is unclear how many airmen could be out of a job as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re basically taking some end strength out associated with the divestments\u201d proposed for 269 airframes in fleets like the T-1 training aircraft, F-22 fighter jets and E-3 airborne target tracking planes, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters in a March 25 preview. The Air Force said those retirements are a mix of newly suggested and previously authorized moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those positions largely belong to airmen whose airframes may leave the inventory, though troops can be reassigned to other billets as needed. The number of jobs that are filled at one time changes throughout the year as people join and depart the service. The Air Force can shrink by attrition, not mandatory separation, by opting not to replace airmen who leave, Kendall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t