Alternate Solutions to the Problem of Pilot Retention in the United States Air Force.

摘要

The Air Force is experiencing the most serious retention problem since 1979 when the cumulative continuation rate (CCT) hit a low of 26%. The rate increased the following years due mainly to the country's entering a period of recession. The national unemployment rate increased from 5.8% in 1979 to 9.7% in 1980. As the economy slowed down, the commercial aviation industry reduced their hiring quotas. In conjunction with hiring slowdowns, the Air Force benefited from a significant increase in military pay. These raises were coupled with some reductions of aircrew irritants and improvements in compensation, hardware and training time. Retention rates improved to a high water mark of 78% CCR in 1983. But following this high mark, retention rates began to decline again and appear to be leveling at a low point of 36% CCR for FY89 and the first quarter FY90. The CCR that the Air Force says is needed to maintain the force at a healthy level is 63%. 1989 statistics show that pilot separations exceed the expected separation rate of 2,600 by 100. Even outside the 6-11 year window losses increased from 9.9% in FY88 to 11.4% in FY89. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Air Force pilot retention problem. We will examine the historical data and extent of the problem, discuss the internal and external forces at work, analyze existing attempts to solve the problem and finally propose alternative solutions.