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(https://rumcdn.geoedge.be/f7ae3efe-f9e8-44be-8cf9-3b564afd5f4b/grumi-ip.js)  (https://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js)  (https://btloader.com/tag?o=5119785225420800&upapi=true)  (https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=GTM-T4BJGTM)   (../manifest.json)  (../../images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/Icons/PNG/jp-favicon-16.png)  (../../images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/Icons/PNG/jp-favicon-32.png)  (../../images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/Icons/PNG/jp-favicon-192.png)  (https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/Icons/PNG/jp-favicon-180.png)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com)  (https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js)  Many pilots in US Air Force below minimum sortie requirement for combat | The Jerusalem Post      (article-908473.html)                     (Jerusalem Post) (https://www.jpost.com/) (The Jerusalem Post - Israel News) (The Jerusalem Post - Israel News)    (CONFERENCES) (https://www.jpost.com/conferences) CONFERENCES  (ISRAEL NEWS) (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news) ISRAEL NEWS  (WORLD NEWS) (https://www.jpost.com/international) WORLD NEWS  (MIDDLE EAST) (https://www.jpost.com/middle-east) MIDDLE EAST  (BUSINESS & INNOVATION) (https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation) BUSINESS & INNOVATION  (DEFENSE & TECH) (https://defense-and-tech.jpost.com/) DEFENSE & TECH  (OPINION) (https://www.jpost.com/opinion) OPINION  (JP STORE) (https://store.jpost.com/) JP STORE   (https://www.jpost.com/PayWalllogin) Login    (Search) ()           (https://www.jpost.com/PayWalllogin) Login (https://payments.jpost.com/paywall/paywallpersonaldetails) Subscribe    (https://www.jpost.com/magazineprint/digitallibrary) JPOST DIGITAL LIBRARY  (https://www.jpost.com/) HOME PAGE  (https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report) THE JERUSALEM REPORT  (https://defense-and-tech.jpost.com/) DEFENSE & TECH  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/education) JPOST HIGHER EDUCATION  (https://www.jpost.com/opinion) OPINION  BUSINESS & INNOVATION      (https://realestate.jpost.com/) REAL ESTATE LISTINGS  (https://www.jpost.com/aliyah) ALIYAH  (https://www.jpost.com/conferences) JERUSALEM POST CONFERENCE  PREMIUM      (https://store.jpost.com/) JP STORE  Categories  ISRAEL NEWS      WORLD NEWS      MIDDLE EAST      (https://www.jpost.com/american-politics) US POLITICS  DIASPORA      (https://www.jpost.com/opinion) OPINION  PODCAST      JUDAISM      (https://www.jpost.com/kabbalah) KABBALAH  CHRISTIAN WORLD      HEALTH & WELLNESS      (https://www.jpost.com/science) SCIENCE  (https://www.jpost.com/law) LAW  ARCHAEOLOGY      (https://www.jpost.com/omg) OMG  (https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change) ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE  (https://www.jpost.com/food-recipes) FOOD & RECIPES  (https://www.jpost.com/history) HISTORY   (https://www.jpost.com/special-content) SPONSORED CONTENT  (https://www.jpost.com/advertise) ADVERTISE WITH US  (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/termsofservice.aspx) TERMS OF USE  (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/privacypolicy.aspx) PRIVACY POLICY  (https://www.jpost.com/contactus) CONTACT US  (https://www.jpost.com/customer-service/cancel-subscription) CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION  (https://www.jpost.com/customer-service) CUSTOMER SERVICE  (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/aboutus.aspx) ABOUT US       (https://www.jpost.com/) Jerusalem Post /  (https://www.jpost.com/international) World News   US Air Force pilots lack sufficient sortie experience for combat operations - report MIAS expert John Venable noted that the pilot shortage facing the US military is anecdotally 4,000 open slots, though the official number is 2,000.  (Share)         (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.jpost.com/)      Follow us on Google     (A USAF Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor flies during the Oshkosh Airshow on July 20, 2026 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.) (A USAF Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor flies during the Oshkosh Airshow on July 20, 2026 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.)   A USAF Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor flies during the Oshkosh Airshow on July 20, 2026 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (photo credit: Nick Ut/Getty Images )    By AARON GLICK    SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 22:48   Many (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-904924) US Air Force (USAF) pilots lack sufficient sortie experience to remain combat-ready, the Military Times reported Sunday.  The report cited John Venable, an expert at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies (MIAS), who said the average USAF pilot currently performs only one sortie a month, down from 5.5 a month in 2023, with the latter still only 60% of the required level.   To be considered combat-ready, USAF pilots need at minimum 9 sorties per month, the Military Times said, citing past service statements.  Venable noted that during Operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury, US operations “came on the backs” of the (https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-908179) Israel Air Force , whose pilots fly an average of 20 sorties per month.  The report said that, during Operation (https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-907578) Epic Fury , the USAF had 25 squadrons with about 325 aircraft, according to the MIAS, out of 1,084 active aircraft, including 634 mission-capable jets as of 2024.   (A USAF Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle fight/bomber taxis after landing at RAF Lakenheath on April 07, 2026 in Lakenheath, England.)  A USAF Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle fight/bomber taxis after landing at RAF Lakenheath on April 07, 2026 in Lakenheath, England. (credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images)    “If you look schematically at the whole picture, 325 aircraft, combat-coded fighter aircraft, is half of what we had in Desert Storm," said Venable. "It’s about all we can muster today.”  Venable: USAF has not released information on pilot sortie rates since 2023  According to Venable, the USAF has not released information on pilot sortie rates since 2023.  He added that the pilot shortage facing the US military stands anecdotally at 4,000 open slots, despite the official number being 2,000.   The Military Times cited the expert as at least partially attributing the issue to the actions of former US Air Force secretary Frank Kendall, who in 2025 reallocated funds away from thousands of aviation maintenance positions while serving under then-US president (https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-908006) Joe Biden .     See more on (https://www.jpost.com/tags/idf) IDF |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/air-force) Israeli Air Force |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/us-air-force) US Air Force |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/operation-midnight-hammer) Operation Midnight Hammer |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/operation-epic-fury) Operation Epic Fury    (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.jpost.com/)      Follow us on Google           Related Articles (https://www.jpost.com/international/internationalrussia-ukraine-war/article-908471) (Aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Lutsk Saturday, 12th September 2026, 17:49) (Aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Lutsk Saturday, 12th September 2026, 17:49)  Russian drone strikes key diplomatic train route    (article-908473.html) US Air Force pilots below minimum sortie requirement      (https://www.jpost.com/international/article-908466) US embassy staffer leaves post after alleged child abuse      (https://www.jpost.com/international/article-908454) (A bus drives past a branch of Lloyds Bank in London, Britain, January 28, 2026.) 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