Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4373 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4373 To establish a pilot program for the retention of experienced regular Air Force fighter aircrew, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2026 Mr. Budd (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. King, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Kaine, and Ms. Rosen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To establish a pilot program for the retention of experienced regular Air Force fighter aircrew, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act''. SEC. 2. RETENTION OF EXPERIENCED REGULAR AIR FORCE FIGHTER AIRCREW PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish a pilot program, to be known as the ``Retention of Experienced Regular Air Force Fighter Aircrew Pilot Program'', to permit one-time, time- limited career intermissions for regular Air Force fighter aircrew to test whether targeted intermissions reduce early separations and preserve experienced fighter aircrew subject matter experts for air staff positions and leadership roles in the active component (in this Act referred to as the ``Program''). (b) Participation Eligibility.--Participation in the Program shall be limited as follows: (1) Participants shall be officers in the active component of the Air Force with 11F and 12F Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) designations. (2) Participants shall have completed their respective Undergraduate Pilot Training