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S 4373

A bill to establish a pilot program for the retention of experienced regular Air Force fighter aircrew, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Ted Budd and 7 co-sponsors

Establish a pilot program to retain experienced regular Air Force fighter aircrew by offering incentives and policy options to reduce voluntary separations.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4373

Summary of Bill S. 4373 (119th Congress) – “A bill to establish a pilot program for the retention of experienced regular Air Force fighter aircrew, and for other purposes”

Note: The following summary is based on the bill’s title, sponsor information, and the action history provided. For complete legislative text, amendments, and final dispositions, please consult the official Congress.gov record.

Purpose and intent

  • The bill proposes to establish a pilot program aimed at retaining experienced regular Air Force fighter aircrew.
  • The underlying goal is to address potential pilot retention challenges within conventional (regular, active-duty) Air Force fighter units by providing incentives, structures, or authorities to keep seasoned aircrew members from leaving active service.

Key provisions and changes (as indicated by the title and typical content of such bills)

  • Establishment of a pilot program specifically targeting retention of experienced Air Force fighter aircrew (e.g., pilots and possibly combat systems officers or mission specialists assigned to fighter aircraft units).
  • The program would likely define:
    • Eligibility criteria (which aircrew are covered, years of service, ranks, deployment considerations).
    • Participating bases or units.
    • Program duration (start and end dates for the pilot phase).
    • Incentives or authorities to retain aircrew (e.g., bonuses, adjusted rotation policies, alternative duty assignments, retention pay, career timing flexibility).
  • Administrative and oversight provisions:
    • Roles of Air Force leadership and potential reporting requirements to Congress or a specified committee.
    • Metrics for evaluating program effectiveness (retention rates, readiness, readiness readiness, mission capability).
  • Any “for other purposes” language typically authorizes related support measures or related authorities that support retention or aviation readiness, which could include funding mechanisms, testing of new personnel policies, or related pilot programs for other air communities.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: Regular Air Force fighter aircrew members (e.g., fighter pilots and other aircrew assigned to fighter aircraft units who meet eligibility criteria).
  • Secondary: Air Force leadership and personnel offices implementing retention policies; potentially unit commanders responsible for staffing and readiness.
  • Potential beneficiaries: Eligible aircrew who participate in the pilot program and receive the retention incentives or policy accommodations designed to reduce voluntary separations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Action history:
    • Introduced in the Senate.
    • Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services (as of 2026-04-22).
  • Sponsorship:
    • Bipartisan co-sponsors listed (Angus King, Jacky Rosen, Tim Kaine, Ted Budd, Jeanne Shaheen, Eric Schmitt, Kevin Cramer, Mike Rounds).
  • Implications:
    • As a Senate bill, the proposal would move through the Armed Services Committee for hearings and potential markups, with further amendments before a floor vote.
    • If enacted, implementing guidance and funding would be required to operationalize the pilot program, with a defined pilot period and evaluation plan.

Practical considerations

  • Potential impact on readiness and experience: Retaining experienced aircrew could improve squadron proficiency, reduce recurrent training costs, and maintain operating tempo.
  • Budget and cost: The program would likely require funding for incentives, personnel policy changes, and program administration; specifics would be set in the bill’s text and any accompanying waivers or authorization levels.
  • Evaluation and sunset: Expect provisions to assess effectiveness at the end of the pilot and determine whether to scale, modify, or terminate the program.

If you’d like, I can pull the full bill text and provide a more granular section-by-section breakdown (definitions, specific authorities granted, funding sections, and anticipated reports).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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