Air Force Drawdown May Make Fighter Pilots Scarce

Reports are already starting to emerge on how a reduced Department of Defense budget will affect each of the services.  The Air Force seems prepared to mothball multiple A-10 squadrons (though its not the first time this has been proposed): 

As part of the Defense Department’s efforts to trim close to $500 billion in spending over the next decade, defense officials said Friday that the service intends to cut five A-10 tactical squadrons,…a Guard F-16 tactical unit and an F-15 training squadron.

A smaller group of Air Force fighter (and attack) pilots will undoubtedly mean the competition for fighter pilot jobs will increase in the coming years.  So long as the Air Force continues to get sufficient applications and maintains its current rate of retention, it will be able to have extremely tough standards for pilot candidates.

Assuming a high rate of retention (which some have doubted), the budget drawdown could theoretically minimize the “fighter pilot shortage” — by significantly reducing the number of fighter pilots in the Air Force.

6 comments

  • I can think of one fighter pilot that a lot of people would like to see the Air Force should reduce its numbers by.

  • The effort you put behind this blog is well worth it, Chris Rodda just gave you her stamp of approval. Keep up the good work JD.

  • I figured this was coming but sure was hoping it wasn’t since I’ll be starting UPT next year.

  • @Layne Clawson
    Timing is everything, and its difficult to predict the future. Even if the budget reductions go as planned, it might not affect your first assignment because they’ll take so long to take effect. Or, the F-35 may come on line faster than planned and there may be more cockpits to fill.

    If you’ve already got a UPT slot, you’ve already won half the battle. Do well in UPT and you’ll position yourself as best you can to get the airframe you want. You can’t ask for more than that.

  • Pingback: God and Country » Air Force Talks Cancelling A-10. Again.

  • @JD
    Thanks JD. Thats basically what all the guys on the hill have told us. I’ll be headed basically to Mexico next March for UPT so there is a lot of time between now and when the AF will figure out what to do with me.