The merger is a test case for the Pentagon's Future Total Force plan. Reserves from the 419th Fighter Wing would merge with the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing. This type of union is new for fighter units, said Col. Gary Batinich, commander of the 419th Fighter Wing, a reserve unit. Five other fighter units are also trying out similar unions.

"We're trying to be better, more efficient and more capable to meet what we perceive as the future threat," Batinich said. "The whole idea with transformation is we're moving the Air Force away from the Cold War threat. We're transforming it to be leaner and meaner and more efficient."

Key to this transformation is consolidating fighter wings, each with 24 aircraft in its fleet. BRAC commissioners will play an important role in achieving this goal.

The Pentagon recommended that 15 of the F-16s currently assigned to the 419th be shipped to other units in Florida and Texas. By adding the six fighter jets from Cannon, the new 388th Fighter Wing would be at the Pentagon's goal of 24 aircraft per wing, Batinich said.

"We want to be something stronger, more combat capable," said Col. Robert Beletic, 388th Fighter Wing commander. "Obviously the whole purpose is to make our military more efficient . . . and we will be better stewards of our nation's taxpayer dollars."

The merger is expected to take place in the next year and a half. Both Beletic and Batinich said young pilots and mechanics from the 388th will benefit from the experience of the reserves of 419th.

"We actually had people accept airplanes here into this unit, and they were crew chiefs until the plane went to the boneyard, until it was retired," Batinich said. "That's pretty unique. If something goes wrong, they've seen it all before. We have a lot more experience."

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