Air Force Pilot Shortage!

TheFlyingTurkey

TheFlyingTurkey

Fetus Worshiper
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fighter-pilot-wanted-20130722,0,2152468.story

Air Force aims to land more top guns amid pilot shortage

The Pentagon is so short of Air Force fighter pilots that it's boosting its salary package to make the job more enticing.


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y W.J. Hennigan
July 22, 2013, 5:00 a.m.​


Help wanted: At least 130 veteran military aviators for nine-year commitment to fly fighter jets.
Salary: $34,500 to $97,400. Plus good benefits and a $225,000 signing bonus — guaranteed.
Contact: U.S. Air Force by Sept. 30.
That's the offer from the Pentagon, which is so short of Air Force fighter pilots that it's boosting its salary package to make the job more enticing.
It may be hard to imagine that life as a high-flying fighter jock has lost its swagger, but the Air Force revealed it has a shortage of 200 fighter pilots this year. And if something isn't done, the Air Force, which has about 3,000 fighter pilots, fears it may face a shortfall of 700 by 2021.
 
Where do I sign up :) It goes in cycles, always. Navy has to many, they don't think ahead (read Black Tuesday, 1992), they get rid of a bunch of pilots and student pilots. By mid-late 90's, they are short on pilots, offer the big bonus. Same with the USAF through the years. Sometimes it's good when there is a shortage....they maybe accept lower GPA's or waive certain things. I still have no idea how I was selected for pilot training back in 93 with my GPA!!

Of course the Navy needs pilots, puts out some recruiting ads, kids sign up to fly fighters and 50% end up in helo's :)
 
$225,000 signing bonus? is that lump sum or payed in installments? How much is taxable?
 
I believe, but do not know, that's a 10 year bonus, about 1/2 is available up front and its all taxed.... could be wrong.
 
CFIT99 said:
$225,000 signing bonus? is that lump sum or payed in installments? How much is taxable?
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Its not a signing bonus...its a retention bonus. There is no signing bonus. Its $25K extra per year for years after the pilot goes beyond his pilot training service committment (roughly nine years). The previous bonus (and the one still available for non-fighter pilots) is $25K for five years. In previous years, bonus acceptance rates (or "take-rates" in Air Force personnelist terms) have been slumping.

Turns out, flying constant combat for a decade has given guys much in the way of leadership and management skills. With the economy turning around, many see the AF as not as good of a deal to stay through retirement. Leadership is always in demand.
 
History repeats itself. We had a mass exodus during the '78-'80 time frame. They begged us to return which some of us did; four year commitment, no bonus.
 
rframe said:
I wish I had a clue what secret message was hidden in this image.

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Apparently, whatever the secret message is, it's vital to flying fighters :)
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I thought the USAF moved to some computer generated color vision test?? The Navy still uses the FALANT though I didn't take a single color vision test my last 3 years in the Navy. I think being an old salty dog was enough for them. I could never pass those tests above, thank goodness for the FALANT!!!

You could always join the Navy and have a 50% chance of flying helo's!!!
 
bunk22 said:
I think being an old salty dog was enough for them. I could never pass those tests above, thank goodness for the FALANT!!!

You could always join the Navy and have a 50% chance of flying helo's!!!
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Haha, I've heard a couple funny stories from military guys on how they got around color vision tests back in the day.

That's alright, I'm an old geezer now (36) and they wouldn't take me if the President himself tried to force them to.
 
If you're over 29, you can go in as an E, and get a waiver. That will buy you 3 extra years, and probably a couple more if they like you.
 
Champcar said:
I'm assuming you still need 20/20 uncorrected vision. Us dorks with glasses need not apply.
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Not true. Correctable to 20/20. At least it was in 2003... Things change daily. Navy and AF do things differently. You'll need to check both sets of instructions.
 
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