Not every fighter pilot gets to “use” their skills.  Like a football player who never goes to the SuperBowl, they train hard and sharpen their skills for the time when they are called upon, but for any of a variety of reasons–whether timing, politics, or just the world environment–they simply “miss” the war.

As noted in Christian Fighter Pilot is not an Oxymoron, no fighter pilot yearns for war, but if war occurs, they desperately want to be there, to do their job, and to do their part to achieve victory.

That said, even in war, there are sometimes slow times.  The Air Force Times notes that November was the second month this year in which zero bombs were dropped in Iraq, even though there were more than 800 close air support missions.  While it is a positive sign of the stability of Iraq and the increasing role of Iraqi security forces–meaning US forces are accomplishing their objectives–such statistics also mean there are a great number of very bored fighter pilots.

Many are also likely looking to the northeast, where fighter pilots are still daily dropping ordnance in Afghanistan in support of both their comrades on the ground and the strategic mission.

Such feelings are not unique to the Air Force.  Other US servicemembers in Iraq are also torn between the feeling of relief in being “safe” (a relative term) in Iraq versus feeling of uselessness (or even guilt) by virtue of their peers fighting–and dying–in Afghanistan.

It is a common but paradoxical feeling that may be difficult for some outside of the military to understand.