Job dissatisfaction is cited as top
reason why airmen leave the service
By Marni McEntee,
Kaiserslautern bureau
When airmen opt out of the service, their decision usually has more to do with
dissatisfaction with their Air Force job than any outside influences, a recent survey
indicated.
Although airmen say the No. 1 factor in their choice to get out of the service is the
availability of civilian jobs, the other top reasons are all service-related, according to
a Career Decisions Exit Survey for fiscal 2000.
Those factors are:
¶ Pay and allowances.
¶ Recognition of one’s efforts.
¶ Unit level leadership.
¶ Overall job satisfaction.
¶ Choice of job assignment.
¶ Base of assignment.
¶ Promotion opportunity.
¶ Geographic area/current base.
¶ Amount of additional duties.
That’s why the Air Force is calling quality-of-life initiatives critical to
increasing retention, which has been below target goals since 1998.
Such factors as adequate manpower; fair and competitive compensation and benefits;
quality health care; safe, affordable housing and good education opportunities may turn
the tide.
Several recent initiatives are meant to boost re-enlistment rates. Among them are:
¶ Removal of the 15 percent out-of-pocket cost restriction for Basic Allowance for
Housing to reach a goal of zero out-of-pocket costs by 2005.
¶ An Expeditionary Aerospace Force concept that makes deployment times more
predictable.
¶ Expanded Selective Re-enlistment Bonus Program; 149 skills now receive SRBs totaling
$165 million, compared to 152 skills and $124 million in fiscal 2000.
¶ Increased promotions. Master sergeant, technical sergeant and staff sergeant
promotion rates were the highest in 30 years.
"I think the Air Force is on the right track" with these initiatives, said
Senior Master Sgt. Chuck Blakeslee, a career assistance adviser at RAF Lakenheath,
England. "But the focus I’m taking is, you can’t buy anybody with
money."
More can be done to remind airmen of the intangible benefits of the service, he said.
"Nobody really goes into the military thinking they’re going to get
rich," Blakeslee said. "At Lakenheath, one of the things we focus on is helping
airmen remember the Air Force family — that we take care of each other, the
camaraderie you build."
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