Enlisted Retention of our highly trained, experienced members is the cornerstone of Air Force's enlisted force structure and management. Since FY95, retention rates have declined in all three categories. Although we are not currently experiencing a shortage of enlisted aircrew members, retention rates across the force have declined the last three years. The cost of training and the time required to get our enlisted aviators fully experienced increases the need to retain our enlisted aircrew members. Like the enlisted force, overall officer retention was down in FY98.
All indications point to a challenging retention environment.
As the force ages, our more senior navigators will reach retirement and there will not be adequate backfill. Recent projections show that the Air Force will be short of its navigator requirements in FY04. Additionally, with the current pilot shortage, we need to retain as many navigators as possible in order to keep our warplanning staffs functional. Air Force ABMs experience some of the highest tempo of any career field in the Air Force and their current manning is at 75 percent. Rating ABMs will increase the incentives needed to attract and retain these highly trained warfighters.