I'm not against spreading the wealth at all - and the requirement for FAC'ing in the USMC was aircrew. I had a CH-53E pilot and EA-6B ECMO as my battalion FACs. Aircrew who are med-down for various reasons could be filled into UAV slots and staff tours too as they probably already are to some degree. I wish there was a shortage enough to bring back us lazy, lame, and broken wanna-bes Just waiver that PFT/CFT and I'm back in that cockpit taking the -3 night formation hop again!

2 words, well 1 hyphenated word, STOP-LOSS. The exact thing that caused this fighter shortage is now about to happen to the heavy guys. All the UAV, MC-12 and ACC staff jobs that were filled with fighter guys now are going to be filled with heavy guys which in turn will cause a mass exodus just like the fighters. There are enough pilots to fill fighter cockpits but not all the other crap, same thing is going to happen to the heavies. And the heavy guys are getting promoted at lower rates than the fighter guys so that is forcing more out as well. Its going to be comical in about 12-24 months.

Good luck to the AF if they do this. I can't imagine a guy on stop-loss is anything more than warm body that shows up to work and not much more.

They could eliminate staff billets. Presto, shortage solved.

They do not apply common sense logic to anything. They/gov't has done this to themselves. It will get a lot worse before it gets better. It's even getting worse in ANG/AFRC.

True. My old unit is bleeding to death. I think we are in for a rough couple of years. The long term MPA deal ending plus the big airlines hiring is the perfect storm for some units. Guys all of the sudden have options after several years of serving the man and some might jump for better deals.

And,... Monday the AF announced a SERB for twice-passed-over O-5's.
It just keeps getting better!!

Any guesses on when the next Limited Period Recall Program will be announced?

AFRC now soliciting TRs to go on long term AD orders to fill regaf billets to free them up to go to staff. Kicker is, once your orders are over you old job is probably gone. Won't be many takers on this one either.

I haven't seen this...if true it hasn't made its way to AFSOC yet. I'd be all over it. Couple of thoughts - I don't believe those in charge will change the system. It's the system they've done so well under (school, staff, school, staff, school, staff...you get the idea) so I'm sure they think everything's great. I also think they don't believe that any other pilot in the AF doesn't want the same track. Who doesn't want to be a WG/CC?? I'm guessing just about everyone, but I don't think the pentagon sees it that way. If you let guys fly, quit shoving the school/education/staff crap at them, I think we'd be surprised at how many stay. Currently, the Guard/Reserve lets pilots do this, which is why I'm constantly asked about Reserves and airlines by the dudes in my associate unit and guys at the HQ staff where I'm on mandays. It's only going to get worse.