Are former military pilots subject to recall
 

Was reading an article which stated that Trump may want to send thousands of more troops to Afghanistan.

Just curious but if more troops are needed and if more wars break out such as N. Korea and Iran, could the president "recall" former troops, even if the troops, pilots, etc. are clear of any military obligation? Ex: Shortage of military pilots, see which former military pilots are flying at the airlines and attempt to draft those pilots back in? Or would a draft just try to get whoever is out there and answers the draft notice (such as Vietnam)?

Just curious.

To the bolded question, no. A lot of folks get out and are in active or inactive reserve, in which case they can be recalled to active duty.

A draft comes from Congress, not the president.

You would have to still be in the reserves, but that includes inactive reserves (IRR) which some people don't really understand and may not even realize they're still in the IRR (their fault for poor SA).

Also military "retirement pay" is a misnomer. It's actually "retainer pay", and yes you can be recalled from retirement and yes it's happened. Eventually at some age (60?) you become truly retired and off the retainer hook.

But if you're 100% out, it would take a draft to recall you. A draft could be targeted at specific skill sets, including veterans (or movie actors, or lawyers, or carpenters, depending on what they need).

If you're concerned for yourself, I can elaborate further.

I wish they'd take old dog pilots back.

I've seen seals and nukes get recalled from retirement.

Nobody recently.

What about Category E of IRR having to go back to being a TR? I've "heard" cat e is a bit safer since it's not true IRR because you're still doing something from time to time for points only. However I don't know if that's true.

Interesting timing because yesterday I got a mass email from "the reserves" to my personal email saying they need people in my "career field", and went over all the reasons why I should jump back in as a TR.

I'm not really taking it to heart that it means the world is ending and we are all about to be recalled, but I found it to be very telling of the current Air Force issues with their pilots.


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Good lord I hope not, not sure my old flight suits still fit!

Recall video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OmhGrJJjI7E

Not familiar with USAF IRR categories, but I don't think any IRR who does not have a TR or AD service obligation of some sort can be forced to return to TR status. I think all they can do is recall you to AD.

TR/SELRES is inherently voluntary because they are not paying your mortgage, but they are making demands on your life which might interfere with you paying your mortgage.

But the email probably has everything to do with AF pilot shortage and nothing to do with war.

Pulling pilots in large numbers from the airlines would cause economic damage, along with the political costs of passengers finding it harder to get to their destinations. I suspect that ALPA and the airlines would also unite in Washington to oppose a significant recall. (Short of a world war scale conflict.)

The military is more likely to turn to Lockheed/L3/General Atomics/etc. for contact ISR, cargo, and RPA pilots, much as they're doing now.

That being said, pilots currently receiving a paycheck in some form from the guard or reserves are probably fair game for recall.