Budget deficits are compelling the U.S. Air Force’s combat squadrons to absorb substantial cutbacks in training, leaving frontline units unprepared to go to war, according to service officials.

Air Combat Command (ACC), the primary provider of combat airpower, is cutting 32,000 flying hours to help compensate for its $825 million operations and maintenance shortfall.

The cuts come as Air Force aircrews are heavily worked, flying missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and over some U.S. cities in an attempt to prevent another terrorist attack.

With this cut, the command now has 21,000 flying hours left of the original 53,000-plus hours programmed for the rest of this fiscal year — a 60 percent reduction.

Source: www.defensenews.com