48th FW aircraft switch to a tiered readiness posture by Tech. Sgt. Carissa Lee 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 4/17/2013 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- As one element of the current sequestration-related budget challenges affecting the Department of Defense, flying hours were curtailed for aircraft Air Force-wide, including those at the 48th Fighter Wing. Some of the wing's aircraft have been placed in the lowest level of readiness and stopped flying as of April 8. "This tiered approach to aircraft readiness is necessary to meet the immediate constraints placed upon the Fiscal Year 2013 budget. We do not yet know how the budgets in Fiscal Year 2014 and beyond will be impacted, but the skies over Lakenheath will be a little quieter for the time being," said Col. Kyle Robinson, Commander of the 48th Fighter Wing. "Our focus is on maintaining the most capable and ready force possible within the current budget constraints," Robinson added. "These cuts will be painful, and they will have a significant impact on our people, our readiness and our infrastructure." Robinson stressed that the focus is on maintaining the most capable and ready force possible within the current budget constraints. "To the best of our ability, the Liberty Wing will remain responsive to known operational requirements, but we will have a diminished capacity to respond to the unknown," he said. For the first time since the Air Force became a separate service in 1947, it has implemented a tiered-readiness concept for the active duty force, where only units preparing to deploy in support of current operations are trained to be fully mission capable. This stand-down of fighter squadrons will also decrease the number of qualified aircrew to execute these missions. Robinson reiterated that with the cut-back, the wing's ability to support training, educational, and operational events with NATO and participating nations will be diminished. "Unfortunately, we will not have as many opportunities to work with our allies in a training capacity because of the fiscal constraints," Robinson said. "But I can assure you, the 48th Fighter Wing will continue to provide ready, responsive forces to meet the needs of the nation," he added. "Despite fiscal cutbacks, we are constantly planning and evaluating options to better use available resources for providing leadership with effective response options.