REVERSING THE DECLINE

摘要

More than a decade after the Air Force created its aircrew flight equipment specialty, the field is suffering from a lack of expertise.A new Rand Corp. report offers new ideas to fix it. Aircrew flight equipment workers are key to keeping airmen safe at altitude, overseeing maintenance for flight helmets, parachutes, safety rafts and other gear that pilots and special warfare airmen need on their daily missions. The career track formed in 2008 through a merger of two previous career fields, aircrew life support and survival equipment."Despite career field and Air Combat Command leadership attention," Rand researchers wrote, "proficiency of airmen in this career field has generally declined."Researchers found lackluster AFE training is at the core of the problem, and airmen are spread too thin from operations to improve. Without an experienced cadre of enlisted airmen in charge, the profession is low on proficiency and morale.