Over the next few years, hiring numbers at American will increase. This year’s target is 900 (or 930). In just 5 years, mandatory retirement will be 957 for the year, up from 528 this year.

That means one of three things. Flow numbers will increase. OTS Military will increase. OTS Civilian will increase. Or some of all of the above.

I have a furrowed brow as to how many more OTS Military can increase, unless AA is able to steal more from the other majors hiring stream. How many more will be hired from flow each month? Some more, but at some point AA does not want to cave in their WO.

My crystal ball says, while flows will increase some, there will be a significant increase in OTS Civilian (more than the 9% of total hires in 2017). Flow will still be bigger than OTS Civilian, but the 9% was a drop in the bucket last year.

Things are about to get real interesting.