I don't have any stats to back up the exodus theory (which I don't necessarily discount), but I'd love to see them if you do.
This... from Capt. "She-boy" (great American!)
To the "Battle Hardened" LTs of Airwarriors:
NAE Leadership,
We are just under three months remaining on the "window" for our aviators to complete consideration for applying for what commonly has been called the department head bonus. First some good news:
- We have instituted a new concept to incentivize "early takers" and to eliminate the "casino game" feel of the Aviation Department Head Retention Bonus (ADHRB) in recent years. Officers who sign a contract in their early year--meaning in the FY prior to their MSR expiration year--are guaranteed to receive the higher rate if their community is offered a higher amount in their
second (and final) year of ADHRB eligibility (the MSR year). Eligible
officers need to understand that there is NO LONGER ANY REASON NOT TO SIGN UP FOR THE ADHRB EARLY, besides the obvious--genuine desire not to be a department head.
- For the FY14 ACCP program we are able to increase the bonus offering to three communities: VAW/VRC pilot (100K to 125K); VP pilot (50K to 75K); and VFA NFO (25K to 75K). All other communities are offered the same amount as in FY13.
- If an officer elects to take the ADHRB and subsequently 2 x fails of select for DH, we will stop payments and not recoup the "earned" portion of the ACCP.
Unfortunately this year's program was hung up in budget deliberations until late April, meaning that our eligible officers only have a four-month window to make their decisions and submit their applications. As such we have gotten off to a predictably slow start. On our current glidepath, we will come up well short of contract objective. A few items complicate the ACCP picture and have driven me to solicit your help with aviators on the attached list.
- The officers who entered service during our 8-year under accession period
(2005-2012) are now moving through their ADHRB eligibility window (this year's "critical year groups" for the ADHRB are YG04 and YG05 for pilots and YG06 and
YG07 for NFOs--the difference being due to the 8 year pilot winging MSR vs.
the 6 year NFO winging MSR) . When we start with lower accessions and apply the retention math and take-rate math, we show we need to keep almost 100% of the current populations of some communities to have DH selectivity.
- The statutory selection rates for LCDR have been extremely low. In the past the low rate has been mitigated by selection numbers adequate to maintain DH selectivity. This past year's LCDR selection rate and selection numbers were below what we need for DH selectivity we have enjoyed in previous years. The current FY14 ACCP will obligate officers for future year's ADHSB, not for the board convening in a few weeks.
- ACCP is our sole means to predict DH populations across the T/M/S and designators. This prediction is key to properly man the fleet and adjust the spigot for ACCP allocations.
- Rotary take rates have masked tacair take rates. While this year's take rate percentage parallels last year's, the population we need (tacair) is not stepping forward. Probably too soon to tell if this is true again in FY14.
Right now we have 25 VFA pilot takers vs 14 HSC and 20 HSM takers.
The detailers have approached their constituents and behavior has not resulted in more contracts. I ask that you cull the appropriate attached worksheet, and engage your commands where appropriate, and strongly encourage our battle-tested LTs to take the retention pay. Just as important, if they cannot be compelled by your engagement, then feed the majority reasons back to me on why they opt-out of the pay. Naval aviation remains the flexible, forward component of our national strategy, and we need these senior LTs/junior LCDRs to stay on the NAE team. Thanks for helping us in this 9th inning effort.
Vr Kenny
PS: The attached list is sortable by designator and by community, as well as by current command. Every name on the list is eligible and has not taken the retention pay. Only exceptions are those who have submitted contract applications in the last couple of days, after this list was compiled.
Link to the ACCP website is:
http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/o ... /ACCP.aspx
CAPT Kenny Whitesell
Director, Aviation Officer Distribution (PERS 43)