I have heard the USAF is starting to have retention issues. Is this just an "urban legend" floating around, or is there some truth to this?

True indeed.

very true

This was done previously in the late 80's early 90's. I was stationed at Osan AB and had some SSgt cross-trainee trying to pretend he knew what he was doing with the weather radar. Screwed it up so bad, I had to wait until they were gone and put in two days of work to get it back running T.O. specs. After I was told to either cross-train or I'd be cross-trained or booted, I hear there were too many let out.

The only thing I'm never understood about retention boards is this, last year they began to allow people to separate or face the boards because they lacked Manning in specific career fields now to me the easiest way to fill those slots would not to of been to allow people to separate but to offer them the chance to cross train into those career fields which would allow you to retain the leadership you already have just doing a different job, not to mention I would think retraining someone is more cost effective then separating or having to train up someone new.

While that sounds like a good idea. That was already tried a few years back and it but the AF in the butt and caused all kinds of problems. Example: You have a TSgt in an overfilled AFSC. They cross train into a medical field. Based on their rank they should be in a supervisory position but as a cross trainee they don't have the practical skill needed for that position. So you end up with a disillusioned NCO who hopefully won't be down graded on their performance report and you have disillusioned troops who have a hard time following an NCO who is lacking in practical knowledge. Either way both lose.

What is the answer? Higher bonuses for those fields experiencing shortages (either by career field or position). $$ always helps with retention.

Bit in the butt... Hate autocorrect!!

I can't advise young men to join the military today because it is in so much of a mess. What I am seeing now is worse than the Carter years. Even more frightening is that the world is a whole lot more dangerous now than it was then.

MSgt Lambert Larson - The good Senior NCOs that are constantly on the prowl to know what is happening do as you mentioned. The remainder focus on other 'important' matters!

This hits right on the nail of what I've dealt with and what I see countless of others dealing with.

Its ALWAYS been that way, and its similar in the outside world as well.

SrA Shipley. You had it easy. As a SSgt, I was the only qualified 1C6 in a 5 man shop. I had a A1C trainee straight from tech school, standby for 8 weeks straight and since I stationed at RAF Upper Heyford, living 25 miles from the base with no phone and outside of radio range, I was forced at one point to sleep in the supply room because the CoM became concerned that I had missed maintenance calls over night (I would stay within radio range of the base until I couldn't stay up any longer). Unfortunately, there was no room in billeting so I did what I had too. At Osan we got down to two of 5. That was good times there. At Upper Heyford, the up time rate of my equipment increased. At Osan, I received a letter of Commendation from the weather Commander for the status of his equipment improving. I even received a mention in the PACAF Commander communications letter for troubleshooting a satellite receiver called a polarimeter (I think) without a tech order or prior training. I got a weak 5 on that EPR. Combat Comm, there were times I'd get a call before I got back into garrison telling me not to unpack my bags because I was going right back out. At the time there were only two NCO's in the office, I wasn't the NCOIC so guess who was the team chief on taskings.

Burnt out yes. My reward was that I knew I made things better. Please understand that I am not speaking down to you because the situation isn't your fault. Doing more with less isn't new and will never be old because civilians rule our domain and cannot possibly see and often not care for what we do to carry out the mission. I got through by doing things my way, when possible, implementing changes that I thought would improve the job. Yes, there were times I had to answer for some of the things that I did but at least I had the results that spoke for itself. Lets see, I should have faced Courts Martial at least once, reprimand twice. But it was my way of getting through it. I also don't recommend that course of action because it was not necessarily career enhancing (the weak EPR at Osan for instance). I remember falling asleep one morning in the middle of the Air Field after completing a PM on a RSO wind sensor. F-111 taking off and landing for what had to of been 2-3 hours. That could have been a problem but that was just the way it was then. Hopefully our next President will be one that believes in a strong military and understand the threat we are under and build the military back up as it should be. I'm just sorry to hear that what appears to have been a promising career was cut short. I imagine the SNCO's and Officers are looking out for their own more than looking at the people that make them look good. Best wishes to you.

Good advice with the exception of the pension as many companies today offer no pension but only a 401K. I feel lucky I got under the radar and will have one but there are not that man in my company in the same boat.

As far as Aircraft Maintenance we did not exceed because of the down sizing but also the down sizing affected the mid-level leaders. Staffs and Techs were hit hard, which lead to a large amount of SRA thrown into a leadership role without experience. Part of the issue is leadership does not take the time to train personnel as leaders because the production effort and the high tempo of mobility "do more with less" is killing the morale. Also as a recently retired SMS the importance of being physically fit is more important than learning your AFSC.

Kind of surprises me every time someone in a leadership role, blames leadership for not taking the time to train personnel. I do agree though that the more with less line...which I have heard for 18 years now...continues to hurt morale but again, I contribute it to people in our roles to stem that morale reduction. Congrats on the retirement.

Ahh, dirt boys. :D

I was on an individual jet tasking to Balad in 07 and was housed with the dirt boys out of pope for a few months. Solid group of dudes for sure!

Yep, agree. Can't tell you how many Yes-men/-women are promoted; however, they're the exact people who are running around organizing events instead of doing their job. All this, while others are helping to carry the load. They're allowed additional time out of work to attend courses, take classes, etc., then get nominated for awards because they complete this, organized that, etc. Basically, teachers pets get the goods and the hard-workers get the shaft. Additionally, many leaders are too concerned with their own promotion or covering their 4$$ instead of caring for their people.

The air force has like many politicians, done some very questionable things especially since I got out. The changing of the way the rank looks and the uniforms and so on.

I've seen great Airmen, NCOs and several Officers booted for PT issues when they were the best in the unit in work performance and knowledge. Several were somewhat legitimate PT shunners; however, most were dealing with physical ailments that prevented some aspects of the PT test. Thus, unless your a little person (male of female) and could only perform, say - the waist tape, then it could end up as a failure, because you couldn't perform the physical aspects at the time. Other I've seen could run miles but not fast enough, so endurance wasn't the issue but speed was, and most weren't in physically demanding positions (i.e. they weren't PJs or CCTs, etc.)