Originally Posted by
MD10PLT
One of the major problems with all of this is; pilots want to be promoted for flying airplanes and the AF will not promote someone based solely on their flying.
Right or wrong as a pilot you have three choices, play the game w/ additional duties and get promoted, get out or don't play the game and don't get promoted.
The AF is never going to pay a Major or LTC to just fly. They can get Capts to do that. For the Capts, the needs of the AF will always come first.
It is what it is. I've always advocated the AF needs to just accept it and train more people. Although that's not the cost effective answer and in times of shrinking budgets it's tough to do.
Couple of things I learned as a field grader I didn't understand as a captain...
First--overmanning slightly and keeping guys busy doing queep...plus rotating guys through alpa tours (ATC, FACs, etc) were designed to create a higher total number of MWS capable guys. Why? Combat attrition. We haven't talked much about this since the Gulf War, but the defense of western europe against the warsaw pact was going to kill a lot of pilots, and it takes time to train more. So you needed some guys stateside to backfill combat losses.
Next--the Air Force does in fact have a career pilot track. Its called the Air National Guard. It is possible in some situations to be an ANG pilot and fly into your 40s or 50s. I could have probably flown the F15 until 2010 when it leaves Tyndall, but health issues with my back encouraged me to go ahead and retire. Some friends, however, will be 46-48 on their fini flights...