Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) and members of the Bay Defense Alliance met in Washington, D.C., with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz to sing praises of Tyndall AFB, Fla., and ensure it will continue to train F-22 pilots. Tyndall is passing the F-15 advanced training mantle to the Air National Guard at Kingsley Field, Ore., and, in the process, loses one squadron. It had two F-15 squadrons but will only have one F-22 squadron. “This morning, I received assurances from the Air Force that Tyndall will continue to be the preeminent training ground for F-22 pilots and will maintain its current squadron,” said Boyd in a Nov. 17 statement. He added, “This decision will help preserve the operational future of Tyndall and allow us to continue promoting future missions at the base.” Tom Neubauer, BDA president, called Tuesday’s discussions, part of a year-long series of conversations, “a turning point in the evolving mission of Tyndall Air Force Base.” (Also read News Herald report)
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…