Air Forces Struggles To Combat ISIS – Why They Can’t Keep Up With Terrorism

Flying Low.

The United States is currently battling ISIS on three separate fronts and the Air Force is the first to fight. Unfortunately, that conflict is causing a strain on the Air Force and they are in dire need of more pilots. The USAF announced that they will face a shortage of 700 pilots by 2016 and 1000 in a few years. Officials from the Pentagon addressed the issue in a statement about the diminishing Air Force.

“The reality is, pilots who don’t fly, maintainers who don’t maintain, controllers who don’t control are not going to stay with the company because we’re not allowing them to be the very best they can be. Air superiority is not an American birthright. It’s actually something you have to fight for and maintain.”

– General David Goldfein (Air Force Cheif of Staff)

Aside from diminished morale pilots have been transitioning into commercial airlines rather than remaining in combat roles. Excessive time overseas could also be a contributing factor to the departure of so many in the Air Force. The USAF will soon offer incentives to keep pilots enlisted such as more leave time and $35,000 retention bonuses.