Air Force Pilot Shortage Could Send Some to Noncombat Roles

Fighter and bomber slots might not be a given for T-38 program graduates, according to a U.S. Air Force memo.

Mark Phelps

Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 10:29 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

An Air Force pilot climbs aboard a T-38 before a training flight. [Courtesy: USAF]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force is experiencing a significant pilot shortage, with a deficit of 1,848 pilots, including 1,142 fighter pilots.
Traditionally, T-38 pilot-training graduates are assigned to fighter or bomber roles.
Due to the acute shortage, a new policy dictates that T-38 graduates will now be assigned to non-combat roles such as instructor pilots, or flying transport and air-to-air refueling aircraft, to maximize pilot production and fill other critical needs.

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The overall shortage of U.S. Air Force pilots could mean that recent T-38 pilot-training graduates could find themselves assigned to noncombat roles, such as instructor pilots or flying transports and air-to-air refuelers.

Graduates of T-38 training usually go on to fighters or bombers, but the acute shortage means that there aren’t enough pilots available for the other duty tracks.