Total Force Pilot Requirements and Management: An Executive Summary

This report examines the supply of and demand for pilots and addresses the questions of whether future shortages will become widespread, not confined to just one military service; whether shortages would affect both active and reserve components; and what might be done to alleviate a shortage problem. This report focuses on military pilots in the active Air Force, the Air Reserve Component, the Navy, and the Naval Air Reserve. It outlines the historical trends in accessions, retention, and transfer rates of pilots between the active and reserve forces. It also discusses the current, and changing, requirements for pilots in both military and civilian life. Finally, it discusses the current personnel and training policies used to manage pilot accessions and retention and offers some thoughts on how effective these will be in light of changing requirements.