Retention Even More Complicated For ANG, General Says

The U.S. Air Force is facing some stiff competition for pilots from airlines, according to Maj. Gen. Brian Neal, and the Air National Guard is feeling more of a pinch.

The Air Force Times reports that Neal (pictured), the acting director for the Air Guard, told the House defense appropriations subcommittee last week that while retention is a problem for the active duty air force, it is more complex for the Air Guard. "The Air Force either has a pilot or it doesn't," Neal told the panel. The active-duty component "does not have an airline pilot, it has a military pilot. We have [both] military pilots and airline pilots."

The active-duty Air Force has begun offering retention bonuses from $75,000 to $225,000 depending on the length of commitment up to nine years, according to Neal. But a commercial pilot does not face six-month deployments overseas, which is particularly important to pilots with families, he said. And major carriers are willing to pay experienced pilots very well, with salaries reported to be pushing $200,000 plus retirement contributions.

"Our biggest concern is not retaining pilots, it's retaining the full-time pilots," Neal said. "You can compare the pay stubs. The airlines are making billions of dollars. We don't pay enough."

Neal said that reserve components are working with airlines to build programs that will make it easier for airline pilots to continue to serve their country.

(USAF Image)

FMI: www.af.mil