Leaderboard

I read an ACSC paper that was posted here that covered the BENT program. It was sold that there were limited resources/flying hours, and priority was given to those who made the commitment to serve beyond their initial ADSC, or something like that. Reading the ACSC papers are fascinating. Each time, the AF has gotten through it by not changing anything, but riding it out until the next economic downtown. Notes are mine from random scrolling through. 1988: https://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a192791.pdf "USAF pilot retention has once again decreased to an alarmingly low level. The combination of factors present in the current situation--large pay inequity, the perception of reduced benefits due to constrained budgets, and lucrative opportunities in the civilian economy--has the potential to make this pilot retention crisis the worst ever in for the Air Force" 1993: https://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a270298.pdf "An exit survey of pilots in 1979 showed job satisfaction, geographic stability, little say in future assignments, job opportunities, and senior Air Force leadership as the most often cited reasons for separation". "For example, on one occasion the Air Force issued leather flying jackets to currently rated pilots in an effort to increase morale. Some have proposed a "dual track" Sysyem for pilots which would allow th 'pilots who want to concentrate on flying to avoid some non-flying duties typically required of pilots desiring promotion and advancement in the Air Force. " "In an effort to improve the retention of experienced senior pilots, there have been proposals to develop a two track system for pilots. This system, often referred to as the Dual Track system, would allow pilots to remain in a career track similar to the one they are in currently, or alternatively enter a track where they would be a pilot "specialist." Air Force Major David Evans explains that a pilot in the specialist track ". . .would no longer be considered for promotion, PME, or other non-flying related programs and would retain his current rank for the remainder of his service". " RAND Study in 2000: www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA533214 The United States Air Force is facing the largest peacetime pilot shortage in its history. This report examines the origin and nature of the shortage along with retention issues, and shows that the real problem is experience levels in operational units. etc etc. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Oh wait, another one! 1999: https://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a397320.pdf Deployments are a significant factor in high operations tempo for the military. Another factor related to the end of the Cold War and operations tempo is the downsizing that has occurred. Since 1989, the USAF has reduced its overall strength from almost 600,000 airmen to less than 400,000 in 1998, a 33 percent decrease in end strength.13 The smaller force combined with the higher operations tempo impacts the individual airman directly by increasing personnel tempo. Today's economy also contributes to USAF retention problems. As a result of the healthy economy, the unemployment rate is only 4.3 percent, a 30-year low.14 The result is competition for employees. One particular labor market where competition for employees is especially fierce has been the market for pilots. This market has been competitive because there has been a hiring boom by the airlines in recent years, not only because of the healthy economy, but also because of the need to replace a large number of airline pilots reaching mandatory retirement age. .. USAF senior leadership at the February 98 CORONA conference identified this high operations tempo as the primary reason USAF pilots separate from the service. .. There are a variety of USAF initiatives intended to improve aspects of quality of life and thereby increase retention. These initiatives are intended to address two of the reasons highlighted in chapter two, personnel tempo and compensation.

People say that it will be the best bonus ever. I think when you see it youll be very impressed. It will be tremendous. Believe me...

From my AFPC counseling and other sources: for O-5, the job push should be for command...in the AF's eyes, Lt Cols are commanders, so a push for anything else is a message from your SR the you don't have the full potential to perform at the next higher grade...

That's is pretty crazy. Maybe we should right this stuff down, so there isn't a possibility of not knowing it's a thing. At the same time, since there is a check box, why is it a thing. DNP, P w/o DP, P w/ DP, DP w/o DP, DP with DP...now I can do zero work to group the top 20%. It was more like top 5% on that O-5 board, but whatever... For a system that is in one way so streamlined (get school to get school), there are some seriously weird shit that still goes on. I didn't know that was a thing...priceless. Probably said it with a straight face too... Bendy Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

I also thought the call was worth my time. They'll go through your record to see if there are any glaring problems (depth/breadth of assignments, etc). They don't have notes from the board, but they have 10 records from the gray zone that were above the cut line to compare against yours. The two things I was told that they could guess as to why I didn't make it was no awards, and I didn't have the words "definitely promote" in my push line. I also talked with my senior rater afterwords- he didn't believe in putting "definitely promote" in a push line (there's a checkbox for that), and was somewhat surprised to hear that it was a common thing in the sample of records afpc had to brief from. In the end, it all worked out and I made it on the next look.

I have to laugh at this. I asked for an appointment to get AFPC feedback, I was told the next one is in august. Yeah. I'm sure I'll get highly important feedback if it can wait that long. Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network Forums

What is the over 6 years flight pay going to be raised to? Haven't been able to find any specifics.

For the first time in this forum, hatedont has a point. It's been years since my Deid days but I remember the bacon-pocalypse of 2012. Qatar has us by the balls over there and they know it. No one in the upper echelons will tell them to go fornicate themselves with a sharp object. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Wonder how this will look. "The fiscal 2017 NDAA provided authorization to increase Aviation Incentive Pay, commonly known as monthly flight pay, which the service plans to increase this summer." https://www.af.mil/mobile/News/Article/1202627/air-force-announces-significant-changes-to-aviation-bonus-program/

In my 11F community (same communtity as I referenced above) BMC is 5 sorties/month. Normal RAP is 6/month with some optipns for 3 month look back. Hot pits, tankers and double turns are the name of the game for part timers. 4, maybe 5 days a month, + a 1 week SIM trip/ yr, and occasional TDYs are more than enough. Some months you get RAP, some months not. It's all part of being/dealing with part timers. Most of my squadrons part timers would quit if leadership mandated 7 days a month. That's unsustainable for guys with other jobs, even airline guys...especially when they hit 3rd year or captain pay and take massive pay cuts to drill.

History is a great guide in this case. I'd keep collective expectations low... The mantra at the squadron levels (this is WORST EVER crisis, everyone is leaving, etc) is largely absent in the halls of HQ. Neither side of the issue has a complete picture, resulting in GOs talking past the line pilots telling them how it is in the trenches... looking past most input from the line (no matter how many initiatives are being worked). This has happened before, and there's no clamoring rush to fix it based on the USAFs previous experience. Given some of the economic projections for the next 2-4 years, maybe they're onto something to simply remain patient and make minor concessions. It makes for lousy morale in the squadrons though... Chuck

There were major airline furloughs in the early 90s and obviously the early 2000s. Also, there were a few airlines that went away during this timeframe. Lot's of stories of guys going back on AD in the early-mid 90s and not long after 9/11 after being furloughed. The early 2000 furloughs were particularly bad and the military reaped the benefits. The ARC was flooded with guys wanting days & dollars. For 15 years lesdership had free reign to abuse their resources. Now that the pendulum has swung the other way, it seems some leadership is taking a while to recage their brains. I saw a post on Facebook where one fighter squadron is requiring SEVEN (7) days a month from their pilots, with one of them being a no fly/queep day! WTF! I'm not even sure how they have all the paydays to make that happen. I'm guessing they mostly fill their vacancies with AD guys who think it's not a bad deal (I'm sure it's way better than AD). Then they become part timers with other jobs and realize how ridiculous 7 days/month for a part timer is and they look for other ways to finish their 20. Anyway, it seems their leadership is doing just as xaarman says...

Ran over after I read this. Seems life at the Deid may get a smite crappier if they don't figure this out... Anyone out there that can cast some light on it?

I agree, by the time O-4 rolls around, one should know the realities/requirements of the Air Force. The bureaucracy of military isn't changing, no matter what lip service HAF A1/AFPC/CSAF etc say they're doing. I take that back... it'll change when DOPMA changes... but as a soon-to-be 2x passed over Captain, the other side is calling my name and I wish all those who stay the best!

I agree. As much as I hate green dot training, UAVs and staff tours, the realities of the military (deployments, staff jobs, etc) won't go away. Nor will the AF ever compete (rightfully so, IMO) with the civilian market for jobs. Much like a horse-pill of penicillin needs to be swallowed after a date with bqzip's mom, so does the realities of the military. I'm all for more efficient management, but when the airlines pay like they do for the amount of work they expect, the trend will continue. But what do I care, I'm in the guard. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't know if it's limited, but it's part of the passed over process. Name/number is listed for you to contact. I'm surprised so many here had good experience with them, as I did not. (They gave me no information I didn't already know).... and I knew very little at the time. Seems to be quite a few passed over on here Hope everyone's doing well!

I was around when the boots in the ramp policy was around. This is not urban legend. If you didn't sign the bonus (thus tipping your hand that you were getting out) then you were not allowed to fly. You did not place your "boots on the ramp." I, like the post above, think this is classic trolling. I could be wrong but hope I am not. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

That would only alienate pilots when the air force needs pilots to fly the line... ...so this will probably happen.

Inexcusable. That is most definitely a thing... Glad it worked out. Chuck

Giant waste of time. They'll tell you the obvious. Either you have a huge discriminator or your record just isn't strong and was in the bOttom x %

Everyone I know got a few tidbits out of it but it didn't help them for their APZ. Too many "leaders" have already written off once passed over dudes. There were a bunch (30 ish?) of APZ with a P this year though which is a change.

If he will be >15 years of service before the mandatory DOS then he has a case based on a few prior boards. However, they don't have to offer TERA. But a call to his Congressman would be in order if he wants TERA and not the single lump sum.

Ops tested Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is what's wrong with our Air Force and country. Self interest rules supreme! Instead of taking two seconds to talk to the old guy, who by the way probably served himself and is in part a reason for why you are free today, you choose to insert more sand in your Vag and grind it around till the point you need a Costco sized tub of vagisil. You're a douche. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Come fly with us...we'll even let your drive the car. Tilted Media

I just went through a similar situation. Any weight over 600 lbs counts for a PCS PPM soooo what that means is you need a lot of weight tickets. Think of it like a triangle with the apex'es at duty station, TDY, and new station. You're gonna need weight ticket pairs (empty and full) for duty station to TDY. Another pair TDY to new station (both of these up to 600 lbs). The third pair will have all your weight minus whatever you used for your 600 lbs, (they want you to remove the 600 lbs). This one will be for your PCS from duty station to new station. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk