Air Force Gen. Lance Smith, head of US Joint Forces Command, told defense reporters in Washington yesterday that commanders, including Air Combat Command chief Gen. Ronald Keys, “understand” that airmen and sailors are needed to fill “skill shortages,” i.e. to serve in-lieu-of soldiers in the war on terror. (Keys has stated that the ILO effort is costing him money he doesn’t have.) Smith said, “In areas where they can contribute, they will likely be asked to continue to contribute,” despite news reports to the contrary. In fact, the Air Force personnel chief, Lt. Gen. Roger Brady, believes the call for ILO airmen could go up.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.