The Air Force is looking to consolidate its training of battlefield airmen from eight bases now to “something less,” likely three or four locations, Air Education and Training Command chief Gen. Darryl Roberson told reporters at ASC16. Roberson said that the consolidation will save money by keeping like functions together, better standardizing training and avoiding the need to send airmen to another base for the next leg of their instruction. Those shifts often cause a week-long break in training, which disrupts the rhythm of instruction, plus the airmen have to be paid for that travel time and their travel expenses, Roberson said.
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.