Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley says the Air Force has a surplus of fighter/bomber pilots and a deficit of rated aircrew for unmanned aerial vehicle, special operations, and command and control units. And, he maintains in a newly posted Chief’s Scope, that he is “on fire about this.” The problem with the bomber/fighter cadre is that with such a fat roster, Moseley says the junior airmen get less flying time. Consequently, their “combat readiness and continued professional development” is stunted, explained the Chief.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.