The end of the upcoming weekend will mark another in a long series of birthdays for the Air Force Reserve and all who have contributed to its success throughout the journey. The Reserve, which has vowed throughout its history to be mission ready and fully deployable within 72 hours, celebrates its 77th birthday on Monday (April 14).

Reservists in every branch of the military are an important part of the Department of Defense’s strategy for manpower, global reach, and flexibility. With approximately 450 aircraft, a typical response time for the Air Force Reserve to mobilize for mission readiness and become deployable is an amazingly short 72 hours. This capability began with the creation of the Air Force Reserve 76 years ago on April 14, 1948, soon after the establishment of the Air Force as a separate branch of service. 

This history would be incomplete, however, without the National Defense Act of 1916, which authorized the creation of reserve forces as an ongoing part of American military organization. Discover additional historical facts and perspectives from military.com relating to this significant birthday in the overall success of the U.S. Armed Forces.