The Air Force is dangling another round of hefty bonuses that could range anywhere from $45,000 to $600,000 as an incentive for experienced aviators to stay in the service.
It builds upon similar bonuses offered over the past year amid a pilot shortage as the Pentagon and the Department of the Air Force continue their heated competition with China and as threats continue to grow in the Pacific, Middle East and Europe.
“In today's strategic environment, the requirement to preserve critical skills in our Air Force has never been more important,” Maj. Gen. Adrian Spain, the director of training and readiness and deputy chief of staff for operations at Air Force Headquarters, said in a Nov. 30 press release. “Retaining these professional aviators' experience and expertise within the total force is imperative in order to outpace future challenges that may emerge throughout the spectrum of conflict.”
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The Air Force's issue with pilot recruitment, training and retention is not new. The service has struggled with a pilot shortage for nearly a decade, often landing anywhere between 1,500 to 2,000 aviators shy of requirements, Military.com has previously reported.
To keep those pilots who already have been trained and know their airframes, the service has again offered some high-level incentives. The fiscal 2024 Experienced Aviator…
