Can anyone offer an guidance on writing an appeal for attrition from a training program?

2018-05-16T12:05:08-04:00

Despite the odds stacked up against me I am appealing my attrition from flight school. I am struggling with the balance of writing a personal yet professional memorandum.

If anyone has any sort of advice for this please let me know.
I will give whatever details you feel you need to help me with this.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2018 12:09 PM

2018-05-16T12:09:15-04:00

I've had a number of friends attrite. I think one of them initially appealed and won (attrited in IFS, appealed, was allowed to continue) only to attrite in primary prior to his first solo. It would be more helpful if I knew what got you. There are some things worth appealing, and some things they won't take a second look at.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2018 12:10 PM

2018-05-16T12:10:43-04:00

I sent you an invitation to connect. Let’s discuss offline.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 16 at 2018 12:13 PM

2018-05-16T12:13:48-04:00

noun
noun: attrition
1.
the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure.

Attrition is a noun describing the process that caused you to depart the unit.. It does not describe why and that is important to this discussion.

A training unit has attrition for a verity of reasons, not limited to.
Medical issues with trainees
Academic issues.
Legal issues.
And more....
If you are part of the attrition of training members becuase you have a GPA of 3.6 and the cut line is 3.62...thats a great reason to ask for an exception I suppose.
If you are part of the attrition of training members becuase you have failed a test 3 times and that is the limit, you likely do not have a good reason without showing cause for the failure and said cause is now gone (you had the flu, gout, an upper respiratory infection, temp hearing loss and a runny nose, all of which abated after 72 hours rest) and both retests were given back to back the same day you were ill.....

A legal issue : You were issued a bench warrant and arrested while in training... However the bench warrant stemmed from a vehicle you gifted to your sister the day you joined the military 4 years ago, you have bill of sale and signed title transfer documents as required by state law...only your sister never filed the paperwork as is required under state law, so when the vehicle was found abandoned , ticked, it was still in your name erroneously...That might warrant a letter asking for redress or exception.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2018 8:31 AM

2018-05-17T08:31:09-04:00

Nicholas-Open to messaging over private email if you want to discuss details.

It's been almost twenty years and a lot has changed, but this former "Fallen Angel" is willing to help any way I can.

Response by LCDR Tim McKenzie made May 19 at 2018 8:01 PM

2018-05-19T20:01:11-04:00

Put the appeal in and accept the results. These programs have tough standards and are designed to eliminate not only marginal performers, but some who are actually not bad. Its a quality control system on steroids. There is no shame in attriting if you have it your best. I knew some promising student pilots who simply got airsick doing spins and aerobatics. Because I was an FCF pilot, they’d send them up with me to try and break them of the affliction. I’d perform brutal linked maneuvers and make them puke. Only about 25% were fixable. No shame if you can’t get over some obstacles like airsickness.

Response by CAPT H.G “Woodie” Sprouse made Aug 13 at 2018 9:01 AM

2018-08-13T09:01:29-04:00

If the attrition was due to an inflight performance issue, and you were provided with additional training flights followed by a recheck opportunity, with a different IP, to demonstrate that the issue had been resolved... yet you failed a second time.... well, the Navy probably just saved your life or the lives of those with, or around, you! Suck it up!

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2020 9:39 PM

2020-01-10T21:39:35-05:00

My GPA in CARQUAL was too low, even the second time—and I’d struggled in mid-phase FCLPs. I was attired. My peers in the Navy and even Coast Guard has gone to a different pipeline. Can I? No, that’s all right, they said. Just go away. Can I put in for NFO? Please? Anything to stay in aviation? Nope, you’re good. Enjoy being a ground officer.

I encourage you to fight, but the attrition process has been around for as long as flight school. It’s pretty bulletproof. I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

If you’re set on aviation as a career, they can’t take that away from you. Bright ending: today, 19 years after Kingsville, I have 3,000 hours, I have produced dozens of private, instrument, and commercial pilots, I work for the FAA, and i am close to retiring from the reserves. There is still a gaping hole on my chest for the gold shiny things I never got, but I still fly professionally.