Airmen and sailors training to fill in-lieu-of (ILO) taskings for the Army spend a month at locations like Camp Shelby, Miss., where they learn about weapons and convoys—and life on the ground. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Gould, who as commander of 2nd Air Force oversees the training for airmen, says the Army training is “very professional.” According to the Army instructors, it is the same training program used for soldiers.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.