Fewer fighter pilots taking re-up bonus - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Fewer fighter pilots taking re-up bonus

Almost two-thirds of pilots eligible to sign up for the $125,000 pilot bonus are agreeing to stay in the Air Force for five more years. But only 57 percent of fighter pilots are opting to stay. Just 33 percent of eligible Raptor pilots and 49 percent of eligible Warthog pilots have decided to take the bonus.

The numbers for the Raptor are puzzling, given that it is the jewel of the fleet and a prized assignment, but Lt. Col. Dewey DuHadway, chief of rated force policy, noted that only 15 F-22A pilots became eligible for the bonus this fiscal year, which began in October 2007. It’s hard to draw conclusions from such a small sample, he said.

The Air Force Manpower Agency is developing a questionnaire to ask pilots what factors proved decisive on why they accepted or rejected the bonus.

DuHadway said he suspects frequent deployments and high operational tempo are the main issues, because many of the pilots eligible for the bonus started their operational careers in 2001.

Eight in 10 air battle managers, who fly in the back of the service’s large command-and-control aircraft, are signing up for their $75,000 bonus and promising to stay another five years.

By the end of August, 64.5 percent of the 764 pilots who reached the end of their eight-year service commitment this fiscal year had accepted the bonus. Another 109 pilots became eligible in September, the last month of the fiscal 2008 program.

At the start of the 2008 program, service officials predicted a take rate of about 60 percent. During 2007, 67 percent took the offer.

Of the 104 battle managers who qualified for the bonus, 81 took the package. Eight more managers became eligible in September.

Although the service has enough aviators to fill flying positions, the service lacks aviators to serve in staff positions, DuHadway said. Overall, the Air Force could use about another 1,000 rated officers in staff assignments that now go to other officers or civilians.

Maj. Kevin Davidson, an A-10 pilot with the 23rd Fighter Group at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., said he is surprised by the lower-than-average retention rates for A-10 pilots who took the money. When pilots discuss whether they will take the bonus, the prominent issues are personal, not related to aircraft or missions, he said.

He decided to take the money and serve another five years.

“The bonus is going to start college education funds for our four kids,” Davidson said.

The additional $25,000 a year puts his pay on par with what he could earn in the private sector as an engineer and tilted his choice toward staying, he said.

Pilots who take the 2008 bonus will receive $25,000 annually for five years, which would take them to about 14 years of service. The bonus is taxable, even if they sign up in a combat zone.