JB Langley-Eustis, Va. The increasing involvement of Air National Guard and Reserve pilots into Active Duty flying units has been a “shock absorber” of the growing pilot crisis and enabled USAF to keep some wings healthier than others. Col. Peter Fesler, commander of the 1st Fighter Wing here, said his wing has seen the impact of the pilot and maintainer shortage, but it hasn’t been “particularly bad” because of the integration with the Virginia Air National Guard. “The Guard provides us a pretty stable pool of manpower that’s unchanging,” Fesler said. On the maintenance side, Langley has not necessarily seen a shortage of airmen but instead has faced a lack of experience in its maintenance ranks. There are junior enlisted maintainers who don’t have years of experience working on aircraft, and that’s where having experienced Guardsmen can help as well, Fesler said.
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
