Concern for the lack of pilots has become critical
enough that “for the first time,” the Air Force Reserve has “selected 40 ROTC
cadets to go to pilot training,” said Air Force Reserve Chief
Lt.
Gen. JJ Jackson at
ASC15.
“We’re gonna go ahead and fly them out to units to get them seasoned and
trained into full-time status” before sending them into the Reserve, he said,
speaking with
Lt.
Gen. Stanley Clarke, the director of the Air National Guard;
Lt.
Gen. Mike Holmes, the deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and
requirements; and
Dan
Sitterly, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for
manpower and reserve affairs, during a Total Force panel. “We’re doing that to
survive. … Our technicians and [traditional Reservists] are making decisions”
to leave the service because the pay is better over on the industry side and
because they are getting burned out, said Jackson.
