USAF to recall over a thousand retired pilots in effort to combat shortages

A recent executive order will allow the USAF to bring back more than a 1000 retired pilots in an effort to combat shortages. What impact this has on the commercial aviation sector remains to be seen, but any recall will hurt.

Its also unclear if this is a voluntary recall or part of the pilots agreement when the departed the AF.

www.dailymail.co.uk...

a reply to: FredT

When you get out of the military, you are available for recall for a set period of time. It depends on the job, the rank, and other factors.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: FredT

When you get out of the military, you are available for recall for a set period of time. It depends on the job, the rank, and other factors.

Even if you have say committed to an airline etc?

a reply to: FredT

Yep. They have a metric based on time in service, your commitment, and several other factors. If you put in 20 years, then ironically, you're able to be recalled right up until you age out IIRC.

Once you get out, you spend a certain number of years on Inactive Reserve. At any point during that time, regardless of what else you are doing, the Pentagon can recall you to active duty.

hopefully its voluntary. my uncle just got called back up for some work in the navy and hes been out for over 20 years although hes always been involved in reserves and other such things. he loves it though so for him hes happy since hes not sitting around retired but for many that maybe have a career now in the private sector id imagine it would be a pretty big financial burden and maybe not the best circumstance. btw anyone find it odd that the daily mail is reporting this and not the media within the us?

a reply to: Zaphod58

Why do you think they have so few pilots right now?

Isn't that a highly coveted military role? I've always been under the impression that they'd never have a problem keeping people coming in.

AF must be desperate. In June they started offering up to almost half a million dollar bonus for 13 yrs.

I know there has been a major realignment of commercial airline captain pay a few years ago. I guess the bonus still doesn’t come close to helping the AF retain fighter pilots.

Better lifestyle quality would help.

a reply to: CriticalStinker

They have enough on the recruiting end, and coming in, but they can't keep them in long term. Many of them plan to go through their training, and then get jobs with the airlines, where they don't have to worry about deploying, and fighting wars, and can make more money. The Air Force ends up paying for their training, and as soon as their contract is up, they have a skill that transfers to the civilian world quite easily.

a reply to: Zaphod58

That's why there isn't a shortage on ANY other air force position related to pilots...

As a crew chief, you have to basically go through school all over again, just to work on the civilian flightline.

Have to get your Airframe and powerplant licences just to pump gas and change tires on Cessnas, when you were doing everything from towing jets, pulling engines, marshaling, to run-time operational checks before mission take off.

Little weird that the Pilot aspect transfers, but the Medical field doesn't

You sign up to kill people.
That is what "defense" is. Especially considering there are two oceans separating 'merica and everywhere else.
If you write your name on the line it's not about defense, it's about blowing up brown people.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: Zaphod58

Why do you think they have so few pilots right now?

Isn't that a highly coveted military role? I've always been under the impression that they'd never have a problem keeping people coming in.

I read that there was a military wide issue with recruiting as too many potentials recruits are too fat. This is not a joke.

US Troops too fat to Fight?

a reply to: Ameilia

In the Air Force? Nah ( Maybe Pilots... didja know they have to wear a catheter every flight? called a " pisspak " )

When I was in the Air Force, as a F-16 Crew Chief, I didn't even do PT at my perm duty station, you should see the Staff and Tech Sergeants who were " big boned "

You did a halfarse version of PT in Basic, then in tech, you had to run, then perm duty station, no PT, you have a test for BMI, but only suggestions really came from that.

Unless the flightline is held to difference standards, which always could be the case.

a reply to: Tranceopticalinclined

Not all the pilot requirements do. Many times the airline put them through training to get them to the minimum requirements. They can meet the time requirements, but that won't get them their ATP rating, so they'll have to go through some training.

You actually can get your A&P without going to school, but they do make it hard. It involves two written tests, and at least one interview.

originally posted by: Tranceopticalinclined
a reply to: Ameilia

In the Air Force? Nah ( Maybe Pilots... didja know they have to wear a catheter every flight? called a " pisspak " )

When I was in the Air Force, as a F-16 Crew Chief, I didn't even do PT at my perm duty station, you should see the Staff and Tech Sergeants who were " big boned "

You did a halfarse version of PT in Basic, then in tech, you had to run, then perm duty station, no PT, you have a test for BMI, but only suggestions really came from that.

Unless the flightline is held to difference standards, which always could be the case.

They added exercise tracks maybe a decade ago at many bases, including Groom Lake.

Last I heard there wasn't enough funding for proficiency training. I'm not sure what they are going to do with more pilots given current funding.

I'm of the opinion that less is more. I would reduce the size of the military so that you can have a fully funded and equipped service. Granted a smaller one. The Navy is the real problem.

originally posted by: FredT
A recent executive order will allow the USAF to bring back more than a 1000 retired pilots in an effort to combat shortages. What impact this has on the commercial aviation sector remains to be seen, but any recall will hurt.

Its also unclear if this is a voluntary recall or part of the pilots agreement when the departed the AF.

www.dailymail.co.uk...

As stated , it depends. Some sign up for 4 years active duty , then are positioned as inactive duty till age 52 or 55 (dont remember which)
At least that is the way it used to be for some roles in the USAF

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: CriticalStinker

They have enough on the recruiting end, and coming in, but they can't keep them in long term. Many of them plan to go through their training, and then get jobs with the airlines, where they don't have to worry about deploying, and fighting wars, and can make more money. The Air Force ends up paying for their training, and as soon as their contract is up, they have a skill that transfers to the civilian world quite easily.

imo thats more of a recruiting issue. if they want u to be a pilot then they should change the contracts so they get so many years out of them after learning their skill before they can leave and move into the private sector

a reply to: TheScale

They do. Depending on the field that you enter once you enlist, you can have anywhere from 4 years, to 12 I think it is for pilots, that you have to complete before you can get out. Then you have a certain amount of time on the recall list where you can be recalled back to service.

a reply to: FredT

A ******** awful source.

Here's a better one:

www.militarytimes.com...

The executive order issued by President Trump represents a sweeping attempt to tackle the Air Force’s serious pilot shortage, which now amounts to roughly 1,500 pilots. The Air Force has struggled to hold on to its skilled pilots — especially fighter pilots — in the face of a massive hiring surge from commercial airlines, which offer far larger salaries than the military.

I am so *********** sick of war mongers.

I am a retired USAF SNCO. I am actually subject to recall for 8 years, post retirement.

This is probably the only time... like EVER... that I am grateful for my Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis.

How messed up am I?

a reply to: FredT

Hello FredT,

Was checking this news out earlier:
www.whitehouse.gov...

But the executive order itself is not specific to the Air Force, and could conceivably be used in the future to call up more officers and in other branches.

halturnerradioshow.com... ce

I like the first comment below the article, it says:

.

Don't doubt for a minute that there's a big war coming up. Don't doubt it at all. However this Executive order is an extension of the executive order signed by Obama which was an extension of the executive order signed by GW Bush. On its face, it is meaningless. www.gpo.gov...