Unacceptable readiness rates and a declining force size are creating tremendous challenges for the U.S. Air Force, said Gen. David L. Goldfein, Air Force Chief of Staff.

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Gen. Goldfein described readiness as the biggest challenge for the Air Force since the service is now at its smallest size ever. He emphasized the current size of the Air Force, which stands at 660,000 active duty personnel, causes "serious challenges" in terms of its readiness.

He also said this total is "the smallest we've ever been."

"For an air component, there are five things that go into building readiness," said Gen. Goldfein.

"You've got to have trained people; a weapons system sustainment program (and) a program that pays for the actual flying."

People are the No. 1 readiness priority for the Air Force, he said.

"There's talk of going to a year-long continuing resolution," said Gen. Goldfein about the budget for the Department of Defense.

"That's $1.3 billion. I'm not going to be able to hire the people I need to get those aircraft airborne or get the pilots to fly those missions," he pointed out.

"I'm not going to be able to get aircraft in a depot; the lines are going to stop. The civilian hiring freeze will continue for the remainder of the year. I'm not going to have the flying hours to get those things airborne, I'm not going to be able to invest in the training and I'm not going to have any relief on the time."

This situation has been going on for the last 15 years in four key areas: space; cyber; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and nuclear enterprise.

Gen. Goldfein said mandatory budget cuts across the Defense Department caused by Congressional gridlock means the Air Force has had to slash personnel numbers and reduce infrastructure and conventional airpower capacity, the general said.

"You could explain (those cuts) in 2013, but when Russia became active in 2014 and invaded another country, (and) when China got active and started militarizing islands in the South China Sea, when (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) came back, the world changed," said Gen. Goldfein.

"So, right now, we've got to get balance back. And for me, the No.1 thing we've got to get after is people. I've got to get the formations built back up ... for the many missions we've been given."

TagsU.S. Air Force, Gen. David L. Goldfein, Air Force Chief of Staff, readiness, People, department of defense