WASHINGTON — President Trump signed an executive order Friday allowing the Air Force to recall as many as 1,000 retired pilots to active duty to address a shortage in combat fliers, the White House and Pentagon announced.
By law, only 25 retired officers can be brought back to serve in any one branch. Trump's order removes those caps by expanding a state of national emergency declared by President George W. Bush after 9/11, signaling what could be a significant escalation in the 16-year-old global war on terror.
"We anticipate that the Secretary of Defense will delegate the authority to the Secretary of the Air Force to recall up to 1,000 retired pilots for up to three years," Navy Cdr. Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement.
But the executive order itself is not specific to the Air Force, and could conceivably be used in the future to call up more officers and in other branches.
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Can this never-ending war please stop now? Bin Laden was killed in 2011. Mission accomplished. Quit wasting valuable lives (esp. Non-liberal idiots) Bring them home NOW
ReplyDeleteIt allows him to recall ANY retired military personnel.
ReplyDeleteSounds very much like he is preparing for a war. So Sad.
ReplyDelete