Effects of Operations Tempo on Mobility Pilot Retention in the Reserve Components

For years, the Air Force has downsized and somehow succeeded in doing more with less. While in the middle of fighting the long war on terrorism, the Air Force is simultaneously reducing people, equipment, and further reducing spending. As active duty forces continue to downsize, reserve components are relied on at increasing levels. This has reached a breaking point in the MAF. Unless changes occur in either the MAF operational tempo or MAF Total Force structure, a serious pilot attrition problem is likely to sweep both active duty and reserve pilots in the MAF. This will result in a significant degradation of combat capability to combatant commanders worldwide.