Nearly 1,100 noncommissioned officers who have been tagged as retraining eligible for Fiscal 2006 are staring down separation alley if they don’t opt for retraining into one of 30 undermanned specialties before the May 15 deadline, said Air Force Personnel Center officials. So far this year, the Air Force has only retrained 442 out of a goal of 1,069. Officials also noted that targeted airmen who decline to be retrained might scotch any chance of switching to another service, the Air National Guard, or Air Force Reserve Command. Ouch!
Seven F-22 Raptor pilots have recently been awarded one of the military’s highest decorations for their actions during operations in the Middle East. Six of the pilots were decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.