(Air Force Times) Editorial: Retaining pilots

[unhappycamper]

Editorial: Retaining pilots

If Air Force leaders need further evidence there is discontent in the ranks, here’s a stunner: Fighter pilots are punching out in increasing numbers, choosing a shaky civilian job market over continued service in the most prized military aviation job.

Only 59 percent of 290 fighter pilots eligible chose to stay in the service in fiscal 2008, taking a pass on a $125,000 bonus to extend five years. Typically, the service wants two-thirds to stay.

Retention rates for F-16 pilots nose-dived from 70 percent in 2006 to 51 percent last year. And of 14 eligible F-22 Raptor pilots, only six — 43 percent — signed up for the bonus.

What is going on is not exactly clear. Surely the deployment pace of the past seven years has taken its toll, airframe problems and the on-again, off-again drawdown are likely issues for some, and morale has plummeted as the service has been the focus of scandal over its handling of nuclear weapons.

Some may be opting to fly in the Air Guard, but not many can be taking off for jobs at commercial airlines, which just aren’t hiring as much.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/community/opinion/airforce_editorial_pilots_111008/%2e

[Captain Hilts]

1. The drawdown has really hurt morale in the Air Force and Navy.

Yet, cranks are sending me e-mails blaming bad naval morale on gays and women. No kiddin'!