Defense Budget proposes new B-1 Reserve unit for Dyess Published March 14, 2014 By 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- On March 10, Air Force officials revealed a proposal to establish a B-1 Reserve unit at Dyess Air Force Base. The planned arrangement, referred to as a "classic association," was included as part of the Fiscal Year 2015 President's Budget. This initiative is consistent with one of the Air Force's guiding principles for the recent budget - to optimize capabilities across the Total Force by leveraging the unique strengths of both active and reserve components. It also reflects the latest guidance from the Department of Defense to rebalance personnel and force structure into the reserve component where possible. If established, the group would serve as the first and only Air Force Reserve unit at Dyess. Col. Michael Bob Starr, 7th Bomb Wing commander, says this change would not impact the wing's ability to execute its primary mission of providing joint and combatant commanders with dominant combat airpower and combat support. "If an Air Force Reserve B-1 unit is established at Dyess, what you'll see are aviators wearing a new patch signifying their assignment to Air Force Reserve Command, rather than Air Combat Command," he said. "I would not expect to see any loss of combat capability." Starr also stated that the creation of a Reserve group would allow Dyess to develop even stronger ties to the Big Country, because many Airmen assigned to the unit would likely become long term residents in the Abilene area. More information will be released as it becomes available. For questions, please contact the 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs office at (325) 696-2863.