How will increasing the service obligation for Army WOFT affect competition for slots?

Michael Enderle — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 04:44:48 -0400

So pretty simple question but curious about the answers... If there's this abysmal pilot shortage why are military pilot recruiting programs so competitive (I suppose that's a separate question)? I'm specifically interested in WOFT. I've been toying with putting in a packet for a while now and saw that the service obligation just went from 6 to 10 years. Think that will draw more or less applicants? It seems to me that you already really had to want it to make it. This may retain more people but it seems to me that it might deter applicants. I'm curious about your thoughts as I'm still deciding how I feel about it.

https://mwi.usma.edu/army-needs-better-solution-pilot-shortage/

Cheers!

The Army Needs a Better Solution for its Pilot Shortage - Modern War Institute

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy recently signed a memorandum that increased the ADSO—or active duty service obligation—for Army pilots. Starting in October, all personnel selected to attend the Army’s initial entry aviation training will incur an ADSO of ten years upon graduation from flight training—a dramatic increase from the previous six-year commitment. The extended ADSO is […]

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Oct 23 at 2020 4:59 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 04:59:14 -0400

Just because the services are short of pilots it doesn’t translate in lowering standards! It is a very rigorous program which requires lots of skills to ensure, pass, and sustain the training afterward! Not only your life depends on it, but the life of those you are transporting or you are supporting on the ground. Therefore, let the filter be selective and pic the best the can!

Edit: In addition the cost of flight training. The government ought to get some of it somehow, right?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 23 at 2020 6:26 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 06:26:05 -0400

Ultimatley military service for many of the most competitive joined for flight trainjng and then the enumerator of of practical experience providing them with very lucrative options on the outside.

Duty, Honor, Country is overridden by the dollar. One cannot hate on the folks making these decisions as they have in fact served and possibly put their lives on the line. None the less, they do take on higher paying jobs. The gentleman who flew my wife and I around Hawaii, former military described to me his salary since. I was jealous. To raise the bar for tetention makes perfect sense, ROI, the military receives way more packets than are necessary to fill the ranks, they need to retain the experience.
as for standards, would you want to place your life in the hands of the least qualified.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2020 10:44 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 10:44:07 -0400

There is a shortage because pilots leave after their obligation ends. I work in an Aviation brigade and even though the ADSO is 10 years I haven't heard anyone say they changed their mind about becoming a pilot. There are already way more applicants than training seats, so I don't see it negatively affecting pilot recruiting

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2020 11:41 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 11:41:09 -0400

I do not believe this will deter to many applicants. If I am not mistaken WOFT is the only military flight program that does not require a bachelors degree. With that being said it already has a larger pool of applicants to draw from than any other branch combined. They actually did studies on when trained aviators are most likely to get out and they have alleviated the first opportunity in which historically speaking aviators seek to get commercial jobs (8-13 years in service). They were actually paying large bonuses to retain those guys. Now they pretty much almost force people to stay until retirement if individuals already have any time in service. Honestly, this was just the military wanting more return on their investments. I do think it was a little much But at this day and age having a job locked in for ten years is a pretty good offer especially if you intended on sticking it out anyway.

-just drop a packet

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Oct 25 at 2020 11:22 AM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 11:22:16 -0400

I would take a rank drop and do ten more years to fly. Granted that would have me coming out with my ATP, 30yr retirement at Maj. and would really be win win.