Released: 30 Sep 1998
by Staff Sgt. Michael Dorsey
Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON (AFPN)-- Declining readiness trends took center stage as the Air Force Chief of
Staff testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee Sept. 29. Gen. Michael E. Ryan, along
with other service chiefs and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the committee one of
the warning signs signaling a decrease in readiness is the lack of retaining the Air Force's most
valued resource -- people.
"We can have the greatest equipment, but it's mere machinery without quality people to employ it.
We are losing far too many experienced people now," Ryan said.
Ryan told the committee the Air Force is 700 pilots short right now. That number will expand to
2,000 by the year 2002. He also said that civilian demands for those in enlisted career fields,
especially jobs needing technical expertise, are of equal concern in keeping airmen.
"I am truly concerned about the downturn in readiness -- not only in the equipment, but the loss of
our people," said Ryan, who believes unless something is done soon, Air Force readiness will turn
into a crisis.
When asked how close the military is to resembling a "hollow force," the general said if the Air
Force only balances shortfalls in the interim, over the long haul the military will reach a crisis
within five years.
During a lengthy question and answer session, when service chiefs were asked how peacekeeping
operations would be supported in the future, Ryan responded by pointing to the expeditionary
aerospace force concept. EAF, Ryan said, will ultimately improve warfighting capabilities, reduce
operations tempo and provide more stability and predictability among the force.
Under the EAF, air expeditionary forces will represent the full range of balance and aerospace
skills. Ryan expects to implement air expeditionary forces by the turn of the century.
For many months, the chief of staff and other Air Force officials have anxiously watched readiness
indicators of people, operation tempo and aging equipment:
-- Surveys have shown that people are leaving the Air Force because they are concerned about their
retirement benefits, unequal pay with civilian counterparts and excessive workload.
-- The number of bases and people abroad is one third of what it was 10 years ago. Meanwhile, the
number of people deployed increased to four times the previous level.
-- Three-fourths of the aircraft inventory is more than 20 years old. An aging F-15 costs 37
percent more to service than the newer Eagles.
Despite the negative signs, Ryan and the other service chiefs agreed fixing these issues today will
ensure the military's wartime readiness for the future. As a result, the chief of staff is looking
into these areas:
-- Revamping the retirement system for those who entered the Air Force after 1986;
-- Reducing deployment rotations from 90 days to 45 days;
-- Minimizing pilot shortfalls by increasing continuation and incentive pays; and
-- Increasing selective re-enlistment bonuses and bonus rates.
"We cannot promise to make (our airmen) rich, famous, or totally content," Ryan said before he testified. "We can assure them that when they must go in harm's way, it is for a critical cause. And we can ensure they have the best equipment and training to accomplish their mission.
"We can also do everything possible to provide them the best quality of life we can, be responsive to their concerns and provide them the opportunity for a fulfilling family life," he said. "And when they must deploy, we must do all we can to ensure their families are secure and well cared for."
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