You can’t throw money at the problem, when money isn’t the problem.
The USAF is, and always has been, too stupid and tone deaf to figure that one out.
This isn’t why pilots are leaving.
AF: ATC is critically manned! Take away the $90k reenlistment bonus!
AF 2 years later: ATC is still critically manned! Make it a $20k reenlistment bonus for 6 year commitment!
AF 3 years later: ATC is still critically manned! Put pressure on the school house to stop washing people out to bump up the numbers!
AF 4 years later: success! Washout rates at the school house have dropped 30%! Idk why washout rates have increased 30% in the field, we should yell at the OJTI’s.
True story.
AF: ATC is critically manned! Take away the $90k reenlistment bonus!
AF 2 years later: ATC is still critically manned! Make it a $20k reenlistment bonus for 6 year commitment!
AF 3 years later: ATC is still critically manned! Put pressure on the school house to stop washing people out to bump up the numbers!
AF 4 years later: success! Washout rates at the school house have dropped 30%! Idk why washout rates have increased 30% in the field, we should yell at the OJTI’s.
True story.
Don't doubt it's that level of stoopid.
That said, from what I've been hearing, it's not so much the washout rate itself that represents the heart of the problem at the school house. It's the inconsistencies between instructors, the inconsistencies in testing protocols, and the internecine battles being waged. The tests are so varied between candidates that it makes one wonder if standard testing protocols even exist. One candidate gets 3 ops in 30 minutes. Another candidate gets 15 ops in 30 minutes. ??? A class is doing really well with a certain instructor. Then, 3/4 of that class fails on the test because their instructor is hated by the instructor giving the test. ??? ... Those sorts of things.
I'm not there, so I'm not certain. But the stories I'm hearing from reliable folks make the ATC school house sound like a pretty fubar place these days.
@///AMG,
Are you on the LCDR promotion list? Is there a retention program for CDR to CAPT, as discussed at one time?