MOSCOW, June 6 (AVN) - About 30 units of the Russian Air Force went through staff reduction in the winter training period and another 50 are in for the reduction in the summer period, a spokesman for the Air Force Staff said on Wednesday.
Over 13,00 posts of servicemen, including almost 7,000 officer posts and 2,000 warrant posts, as well as 4,000 posts of civilian personnel will be abolished in the Air Force this year, the spokesman told the Military News Agency. The main reductions will take place in command bodies and maintenance units. Over 36,000 posts are to be abolished by late 2004.
The servicemen whose posts have been abolished will be transferred to units that need officers in case they agree to continue service. The Air Force currently needs almost 8,000 officers, including more than 30 percent for lower officer posts. Over 1,000 officers have been transferred to the reserve ahead of time in the past six months, including 53 percent who served in the Armed Forces for less than 20 years.