Okay first off, why the fuck would the Pentagon be worried about how its going to afford to pay healthcare. A service that is notably outside of the responsibilities of the Pentagon. Second off, why the fuck would you turn down capable soldiers? If they can do the job, let them join, they are just as American, and just as battle ready as anyone else.
Thirdly, for crying out loud, almost every A-10 currently in service has passed the life expectancy of its airframe. Its almost as expensive to keep them going then to just buy new aircraft. We'd have to build new a-10s for them to be cost effective.
Not to mention, the only battlefield role they play in modern conflicts, is covered by just about everything else flying, in fact a more efficient COIN aircraft would be an armed crop duster. You can field a whole squadron of those for the same price as 1 A-10, and they'll do the job just as well.
The original purpose of the A-10, CAS, is better served by Helios and Strike Eagles. Not to mention, its unlikely that we'll face an enemy that requires heavy CAS (say in an anti tank role).
The A-10 has served its purpose, and done it well, beyond anyone's expectations, but airframes wear out, and our fleet will be in dangerous condition if they're used without major structural overhauls for much longer. Think less basic maintenance and more, replace the entire wing and spar along with the fuel system, engine, and remove the almost totally pointless gun (no, it really isn't used at all).
Your insistence against the A-10 being retired shows a lack of any real knowledge about our armed forces.
