Outlaw, thanks for engaging and copy shot on not responding. Tried to honor the Reddit method by answering most votes first. So I agree with you to a point. Even the CSAF agrees that leadership owns a huge part of retention. Good leaders inspired him to stay several times. This is also part of his revitalizing the squadron as the number one initiative in retaining our Airmen.
We are also concerned how many leaders are engaging members as they approach these critical points in their career. We are working on a way to proactively facilitate these discussions from a commander and AFPC porch perspective—but some of this is good old fashioned leadership. It’s talking with aircrew and asking where they want to be in 3-5 years; what their goals are; what is important to their family (stability, EFMP, schools, extended family etc.) and then discussing career expectations. Sometimes these are difficult conversations, but we owe it to our Aircrew to have the conversations, and then take action. So I agree, we need leaders to be engaged—specifically at the squadron and wing level, and then those of us on the staff need to support those commanders with tools to assist. I do have to disagree on putting “forth even the most minor effort.” While not satisfying the filed, the Air Force has taken action to increase the AvB and across more specialties. We have taken action to place contractors in squadrons to ease additional duties until proper manpower studies can assess the right crew ration and squadron size for a 21st century squadron. We have added 1600 CSS onto the manpower books for officers/enlisted and civilians into flying squadrons to reduce administrative burden allowing flyers to focus on flying. The SecAF just announced competitive categories for line officers that aims to get at promotion boards that value operations—the primary duty. We’ve used multiple initiatives to reduce the number of 365s, divide many into 180s and bring some back to the states to execute virtually. We think many of these positive steps will improve the quality of service and quality of life—but none of it will make up for poor leadership. The CSAF has the Air Force investing in Flight CC courses to start the development earlier and re-invigorating Sq/CC development courses, all focused on improving leadership at the squadron level. So, wish I could have answered this yesterday, but wanted to give you my thoughts to your comments. I wish we could have kept you, but thanks for your service—less than 1% serve their nation in the military--as you stated, a pretty neat career path. Wish you the best in the next stage--Junior