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Rand study on USAF pilot retention

scoolbubba

Brett327 gargles ballsacks
pilot
Contributor
At least on the 7315 side of the house we've heard rumblings about this coming down the pipe for a bit. It really doesn't help that every company grade officer in one squadron submitted IST packages. We are looking at losing an entire year group. But hey, let's not fix things, let's just make them not able to leave.



That's definitely a thing, but you' have to get a conditional release from the IRR- which used to be given out like candy. It's not working out for a couple of dudes who were just told, "Well, you can accept activation orders for a unit in 4th MAW or you can stay in the USMC IRR..." No thanks...

This is the shit n00b debbils (and to a similar extent) baby squids need to be paying attention to, not how to do pull ups or write motarded statements or whatever the fuck else they do before you show up at flight school.

You are going to give an organization some of the best years of your life and they are going to thank you by trying to rawdog you with a sandpaper dildo at the halfway point and actively take away options for your future.

No one is going to tell you this shit can or is happening before you sign away a decade of your life. Think about what that says about the character of those organizations and their leaders.
 

squorch2

he will die without safety brief
pilot
perhaps the optempo demand is too high for AVF.

Put another way - don’t have to retain as many aviators if you’re not flying as much.
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
You are going to give an organization some of the best years of your life and they are going to thank you by trying to rawdog you with a sandpaper dildo at the halfway point and actively take away options for your future.

No one is going to tell you this shit can or is happening before you sign away a decade of your life. Think about what that says about the character of those organizations and their leaders.

Would that have changed your career plans however many years ago? I know it's not apples to oranges (Marine Air vs Navy Air), but curious what your answer is, and not meant to pass judgement either way.

Personally I would still sign up, but I also went in fully expecting to be getting out at the end of my initial commitment (and was ready to). I get what's upsetting is that one might not be able TO get out at MSR, but I also try and keep perspective that what's happening now will most likely be different than what's happening in 10 years.
 

Griz882

Frightening children with the Griz-O-Copter!
pilot
Contributor
The Army’s leaders are equally obtuse on this subject...

I imagine one big difference here is that the Army tends to sweep up a lot of their aviators to National Guard units that actually fly quite a lot. My understanding is that weekend warrior USNR flying is kind of fading - but I could be wrong.
 

scoolbubba

Brett327 gargles ballsacks
pilot
Contributor
Would that have changed your career plans however many years ago? I know it's not apples to oranges (Marine Air vs Navy Air), but curious what your answer is, and not meant to pass judgement either way.

Personally I would still sign up, but I also went in fully expecting to be getting out at the end of my initial commitment (and was ready to). I get what's upsetting is that one might not be able TO get out at MSR, but I also try and keep perspective that what's happening now will most likely be different than what's happening in 10 years.

That’s a tough question and I understand the gist of what you’re asking.

We built our military on the notion of idealistic young people joining without reaaalllllyyyy knowing what they are getting into. That will continue as long as there are young people and wars that need fought.

I probably would still have joined. I wanted to fly planes that said NAVY in bigass letters on the side. I got to do that.

I think this is just another in the long line of instances where leadership is undeserving of the respect they demand. Actively trying to suppress peoples’ options instead of making their continued service more attractive is breaking faith with people who have sacrificed more than 99% of their fellow citizens. It is dishonorable, outrageous, and appalling.
 

Recovering LSO

Suck Less
pilot
Contributor
I'm sure this question will whip of a good ol' fashion shit show, but how many of the folks expressing the most discontent and angst with Naval Aviation got their first choice out of Primary?

There are people in every platform the Navy flies who are unhappy about their lot in life for one reason or another, but i wonder sometimes if the point of divergence made six months into one's career isn't where a lot of unhappiness and discontent starts; or at least makes it A LOT easier to grow discontented and disgruntled along the way?

separately:
people who have sacrificed more than 99% of their fellow citizens.
Generally speaking, service means being okay with this, and not using it as a cudgel.
 

SlickAg

Registered User
pilot
I'm sure this question will whip of a good ol' fashion shit show, but how many of the folks expressing the most discontent and angst with Naval Aviation got their first choice out of Primary?

There are people in every platform the Navy flies who are unhappy about their lot in life for one reason or another, but i wonder sometimes if the point of divergence made six months into one's career isn't where a lot of unhappiness and discontent starts; or at least makes it A LOT easier to grow discontented and disgruntled along the way?
If we’re using the “everyone wants jets” stereotype I’m not quite sure what you’re driving at here; the retention crisis is most rampant amongst VFA and VAQ 1310s...

The fact that this mass exodus is happening across ALL services and platforms should be fairly telling.
 
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