Swizzle

Easy fix: let guys take the bonus pay when they specify, namely anytime during the contract period, in any amount. Make it like a bank account from DFAS...the servicemember determines when to payout the money; and when it gets taxed. The AF would get a few more takers that way.

Are your dependents on your orders? If yes, then is concurrent or non-concurrent travel authorized? Concurrent could make you eligible for transient BAH. Or are you in the grey, I forget how many days are grey, perhaps 30?

More flexibility could mean more opportunities for balance/corrections in the force (late bloomers)...or over-extending (i.e. delaying decisions or delaying informing members) like a madman could cause falling/failing. Just-in-time IDE...new buzzword? (JITI) Guess it's already taken.... Either way it's retention of information/power and therefore mother blue is holding her cards closer for longer. That can't be a good thing overall for individuals, but that's good for the gander.

The fact that they're considering only core AFSCs as subgroups and not like-RDTM code subgroups harkens to the stupidity of the VSP days when we had too many "pilots"...despite being critically short in certain airframes (AFPC translation = RDTM)...and then masses of KC-10 or other subgroups of "pilots" abandoned ship en mass. Only after approving large portions of certain squadrons did AFPC catch their error and adjust the next Force Shaping programs decisions upon aviators on RDTM codes. History...its important... Oh yeah, nice "business case" and nice doing business with you

There is a process, policy, regulation, AFI and/or etc for everything we do. Knowing when to ignore it is half the battle. The other half is knowing where it exists. ...oh and words have meaning and intention, but words in context is key.

They're (the panel) talking about growing pilots rapidly and it's associated problems, namely lack of safety due to inexperience. They're veiled language is: "...In addition to creating new pathways to becoming a pilot, participants also agreed existing pathways should be improved and expanded to take advantage of available technology and safety research to ensure pilot training and qualification are focused on quality performance measures." Allow me to translate...MAKE NEW PILOTS FAST DAMMIT (small cough, cough, *mumble* crap); and find some of that key-characteristics-shit that'll keep those inexperienced swine safe. Where is that lipstick!!!? Break, break: Notice who had their jacket off? Oh the symbology...guess it's time to get to work boys and girls!

Hopefully it had nothing to do with the "not un-knelt light"...ha...FRED

Strats are individuals' philosophies on a feedback form, so it's been said and observed by lack of USAF guidance...so ask those individuals...or wait until/if the AFI standardizing strats comes out and follow the Bobs' instructions blindy without question - it's just easier that way....rrrriiigght!?

Yep, that's the proposal...as PRFs were only supposed to be discriminators, not the one stop shop. New strats rules are coming/proposed too...expect new AFI and policy guidance.

It keeps the $$ where they (Congress, HHQ, and others who can direct us) want it first...that is all. The stay-elsewhere if normal DTS-brokered hotels are sold out is simply because you have stay somewhere. The appearance of military paying military is no good either...but if you HAVE too After exhausting all options, well okay. And For example, how else are Clovis hotels going to grow be versus a budding AirBnB market?! (Half sarcasm...)

I reject your more reasonable idea...

Stop Loss will keep the retention rate 100%. There is no space for more FGOs under DOPMA. Carry on.

I respectfully disagree and see a different message - he is not considering it because Stop Loss is not his to consider, and not his decision to make (his own words and true); however it is in CSAF's lane to advocate for it to who does have authority to consider Stop Loss (i.e. SECDEF and higher). He didn't answer that question of advocacy, instead he mentioned Stop Loss use in case of an emergency - which aviators know can be declared at any moment, as required. The CSAF's comments about pilot shortages being a national crisis could mean emergency..right? Or perhaps I'm irrational...or something. He's certainly shaping the narrative, and definitely attempting to put-at-ease the masses. But everyone suspects something is brewing (ex. those warning on this forum) and an educated man is anything but at-ease. Freedom is at stake, and there can be no service without self - I have lived that hell and know it's true. Individuals (a 'self' make up our service), it's what makes us strong - diversity in every regard, but I'm a firm believer a great work to life balance is critically important. What is missing is work to personal life balance (too much, time to resurrect the USAF PERSTEMPO trackers and not simply deployed metrics), an energizing work-life culture (yep, it's dead), and small civilian-military pay gap (it's huge). What gets me is our CSAF is advocating outside of the USAF that we as a nation have a national pilot crisis which is a bit out of his sphere of influence - I agree we do, but would appreciate his/those efforts focused within the USAF. Introspection into the USAF is well within his sphere, why are we going external? Why is that his strategy? What affect does he think he'll get from outside his sphere? Is it simply diversion and informing?

All options are always on the table for the USAF, whatever is in the organization's interest will be considered, maybe not voiced externally, but considered. The crux lay in the signaling, messaging, and advertising (the political parts). Now two different Generals are messaging and staging something different. It's unmistakable retention-messaging is being staged, how it's staged and finally presented matters for a multitude of reasons. They control the narrative, the comm-outflow of AF, not the numbers (i.e. after an individual reaches free agency) or indivual's choices. Who else here thinks/knows that we are a focus group?! We feed input/feedback into their narrative through this forum, don't doubt it. Concerning to me is Gen Goldfein's statement along the lines of getting to what does right look like between pilots, airlines, and Air Force. What is "right"!? (Standby for quote...searching)

All talk and little action occuring, albiet risky, inappropriate action to ease the shortage I've heard of (ex. wash forward UPT studs, undue prof-advance pressure, and push studs through crap training expeditiously) Do, now, personnel managers/leaders feel the pinch? Are they motivated? What is the agency cost of a poorly trained and wrong-ORM-balanced aircrew pool? Are bonuses or other changes in USAF status quo worth the very real costs of poor manning management (mishaps, attrition and it's paired new-guy training burden)? Where do the black and red lines of this situation cross? Has anyone tracked these strategic ideas (not just aircrew personnel total chasing)? How bad does it need to be before the entire Gov't beauracracy recognizes, confirms, and recovers? A National Security Crisis confirmed? Will the National "purse" open up? It will cost and our purse will open up in some form or fashion, that's undeniable; whether it be via new training costs or mishap costs or bonuses or increases to USAF quality of life costs. Why stagnate and exacerbate the known problem? Senior leaders (ACC, AMC) are writing about it publicly, but perhaps the pot hasn't boiled over yet; or maybe it has and they don't want to admit to "Mom" how bad it is (ex. Finalized Rated retention reports published FY15, FY16?) So... https://access.afpc.af.mil/vbinDMZ/broker.exe?_program=DEMOGPUB.static_reports.sas&_service=pZ1pub1 ....when are they going to address the core grievances to fix the issue? OODA, gentlemen. I'd love to here where they think they are in this OODA loop, and how fast they're reevaluating/adapting? How well are they convincing the bureaucracy for change? And is it working at all levels needed? Is dialog with industry having the affect they desire? Written articles on the subject fixing it? If not, re-enter the loop...or find the heart of the matter by listening to your people and addressing their core grievances.

Is the AF broke? Why all the changes fighting, and directives concerning pay/reimbursements....and will the pot-o-money flow again soon....?

Why the F' don't they just add TSP matching to any AFSC 11X or 12X or Aviation bonus payment used for TSP....the services are allowed to match.... It'd be a small upfront payment from Mother Blue for a possibly big benefit for aviators later when we're old and deaf from flying her planes.

See Safak at Pop's. I've been a customer since 1988 and still have the custom jacket he made me in great condition. PM him through the website for better results and shipping stateside.

The best part is the fighter pilots now have more taskers and award packages to draft removing more cockpit time on a thinly-manned force...yes we've shot our own foot in some regard with this "fix"...or perhaps our new Orderly rooms will absorb this

Short term, perhaps trivial, culture fix attempt; and a long term attempt at more thin strats to promote/retain/recognize fighter pilots...nothing more I ponder

Having the Greek and Spanish girls judging and naming the dirty walrus to Super Trooper and everything in between here...

Good to see this thread is alive....thread bump

"Participants will receive briefings on...career opportunities..." (1) (read also stop loss and pool of potential recruits) five monopoly bucks says they push hard on recruiting and offer returns to AD and do out of cycle FC1 medical checks on aircrew 1) Google. https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/About/FactSheets/Display/tabid/310/Article/365496/muster-information.asp

Anyone have a staffer friend?! Like on any of the subcommittees working the NDAA....perhaps drop a hint. BRO-net!? JK...this isn't how any of that works. Does anyone know btw?* (sarcasm)