US Air Force tackles pilot shortage problem: Weapons and Warfare

[@mikemaresca4999]

It's not just pilots. The Air Force got rid of a lot of aviators circa 2011-2013 in "Force Shaping". If they couldn't get you to leave voluntarily, they would simply cut the promotion rate. Doesn't sound so bad, until you realize that anyone that wasn't promoted was non-voluntarily separated. We warned them at the time, they thought we were just bitter because it was us getting cut from the ranks, and not them. Okay, we were bitter, but we were also correct. For the record, I was active duty, guard and reserve in my time... the same short sightedness of the active duty bean counters was reflected in their guard/reserve counterparts.

[@miguelcomas3157]

In 2011, I was on a rotator going from DJ to BWI next to an Air Force MAJ. He was a C17 pilot with thousands of flight hours, many of them in combat. He was being pushed out of the Air Force at 17 years for failure to make O5. He told me that as soon as he landed, he was changing into a suit so he could go to an interview with Delta Airlines. He didn't want to leave the air force. He loved it, but the cuts they made then cost them his service. Shame.

[@garym8024]

Yes and my son was one of them

[@CaoimhinOMaol]

I’m sympathetic. At my Strategic Air Command base we had a Radar-Navigator in my B-52G squadron who had, as a young 1LT had been flying over Hanoi in a B-52 during the Christmas bombing in Dec, 1972. Years later he had been passed over for promotion to Major on his final try. The AF gave him the opportunity to a reduction in rank to a Staff Sargeant position in Accounting&Finance Office on base to get his 20 years. Sam wasn’t bitter at all, but we newer junior officers saw how SAC and the USAF treated their combat veterans. We also saw how the square-fillers, the types that seem blessed by a higher ranking officer into water-walkers could get below-the-zone promotions to Major, LTCOL and COL.

[@RendelDelarama-ky2jf]

Topgun maverick part 3 ASAP 😂

[@darkgalaxy5548]

US should consider awarding valor medals only. These guys looks like comic opera generals

[@cosmicpsyops4529]

They're supposed to be short. Otherwise they wont fit.

[@Wildhorse66]

So recruiting the rainbow mafia didn't work out 😂

[@turboleggy]

You know its bad when they go back to recruiting straight white males...saying this as indo Canadian living in USA.. Quit cutting off you diks you might need it later 😂

[@DarionMcAdams]

Just draft an numbers will be out the roof.

[@chuckscott4661]

Military conscription is slavery.

[@patrickjohnson195]

Remember pregnant people flight suits??? ✈️

[@CaoimhinOMaol]

The USAF doesn’t handle personnel well. The Air Force Military Personnel Center (MPC) as it was called in the late 1980’s, is at Randolph AFB in San Antonio. When I was trying to work up an assignment with a Major at MPC he went into his Colonel’s office with a request. The door was left open and two young IPs from my base were within earshot of the colonel’s office. The colonels reply to the Major about me was : “ F**K HIM ! “ One of the two IP’s told me what they had overheard and thought the Major had been discussing my assignment. I called the Major and he didn’t deny the colonel’s remarks. It was no wonder people were leaving the AF with colonels like that at MPC. Sounds like nothing has changed after 35 years.

[@finegent96]

Pilots should accept the age of drones & learn to operate those instead of risking their lives in combat

[@MrTakin00]

Boring and useless skill outside of the military. Everything is still manned in the private sector

[@vikinghog]

How can there be a shortage? What happened to all the DEI folks that they expressed a preference for?

[@nesymesy6660]

if only dei was a real thing 😢

[@Walterwaltraud]

The problem is not very complex at all, just imitate other NATO members or Israel: fighter pilots need to commit for 20 years or age 42. Give them 1500 hrs plus ATP with at least 2 type ratings in the last 24 months of service and make that commitment cover active, NG and reserves. If the promotions are an issue open warrant officer options to keep guys around, the pay scheme is good. Pilots wanna fly. It’s really simple, stupid.

[@danielcroslin]

i wonder if H fuel makes them more effective bombs too

[@TheBooban]

That guy from Heaven said he can make hydrogen from the back of a pickup out of thin air with solar panels. Nah nah something wrong there. Hydrogen doesn’t work for cars but drones yes? Fantasy energy, gotta check that.

[@Daniels_Thoughts]

If there not enough pilots, I’m literally open to become one 😂 !!!!!! If you guys are looking for a person willing to take on any challenge to become a USAF, however I’m South African😂 Maybe there’s an exception

[@francoluissotomayor3123]

I wanna be a pilot for the USAF

[@suasponte8363]

Wait until Trump gets rid of DEI and wokeness. I'll bet it'll pickup.

[@O.G.32]

Most of the pilots went to china to help their pilots out cause they are not going to turn down big money for that my nephew's friend is out there and said that there are many more American pilots in china.

[@manadol69]

How to apply as drone operator for F16?😅😅😅

[@worldwanderer91]

How about paying your servicemen better? Offer higher pay, incentive bonuses, and benefits to those the Air Force kicked out of due to refusing unconstitutional COVID shots? Or retired out because they don't wanna deal with woke politics? Or those denied promotions and advancements because of toxic leadership? Or better yet, treat them like actual human beings instead of garbage? USAF is in big trouble when China can pay more and pay better to American pilots than whatever the USAF can pay out though sheer grinch-pinching.

[@RealCptHammonds]

God forbid they offer pilots to return after shitting on them to promote DEI.