The Air Force wants enlisted airmen, especially those halfway through their first term, to consider becoming enlisted aviators. MSgt. Bill Bergen, the aviator career field in-service recruiter, told Daily Report Jan. 18 that there are more than 200 openings right now for flight engineers, loadmasters, airborne mission systems, flight attendants, and airborne cryptologic linguists. To encourage applicants, USAF officials are allowing interested airmen to leapfrog over the normal retraining window of opportunity.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.