The service is experiencing maintenance and staffing issues as well as other setbacks.
The U.S. Air Force will likely miss its fiscal 2023 pilot training target by approximately 120 airmen. This will be the eighth consecutive year the service has fallen short of the goal of nearly 1,500 new aviators. The challenges facing the Air Force, including problems with staffing and maintenance, have contributed to training roughly 1,350 pilots rather than the 1,470 sought by the branch.
“We’re going to try to make sure we are still flying because that’s what we do as an Air Force,” stated Major General Clark Quinn, the two-star general in charge of pilot training. “It sounds like it’s not as big of a deal to short the staff,” the general said. “That actually does affect long-term mentoring and growth of the officers that we expect to be able to lead our Air Force in the future.”
Falling short of the training goal places pressure on the branch to retain experienced pilots, including offering bonus pay under the retention program. The service also faces challenges filling civilian instructor positions.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Frank Kendall as he oversees the U.S. Air Force.
- For General Brown as he serves as the USAF Chief of Staff.
- For Secretary Austin as he heads the Department of Defense.
Sources: MilitaryTimes, Stars and Stripes
