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 Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.
