Air Traffic Control Career Field Update

1. Air Traffic Control Career Field Update CMSgt Don Ball HQ AFFSA/XARF

2. Overview • Bonus Programs Update • Recruiting & Retention Initiatives • The Outlook • The Road Ahead • Questions

3. Bonus Programs • SRB: • SRB review board convened Oct 03 • Data collection, scheduling conflicts, guidance change, end strength – all caused delay • Results released Apr 04 • Zones A = 4, B = 6, C = 5 • 26 AFSC’s Reduced, 102 AFSC’s Eliminated • Next SRB review board Oct 04

4. Bonus Programs Cont. • CSRB: • Approved by Congress for the FY01 NDAA • No money was tied to the authorization • Each service had to provide own funding • Potential existed for funding in FY04 • Initially 12 enlisted AFSCs designated by AF/DP as critical • No enlisted AFSCs was approved for CSRB • Per HQ AF Personnel officials…CSRB for FY04 has been cut from the budget • Funding to pay anniversary payments for officers is all that’s left of the CSRB program

5. Bonus Programs Cont. • Incentive Pay for Hard to Fill Assignments: • FY03 NDAA authorized each service secretaries to award incentive pay for assignments involving difficult working conditions or undesirable overseas locations. • All AFSCs in Korea receive the incentive pay • Max AF will pay is $300 for 24 months • Incentive pay will be inserted the POM for FY05

6. Recruiting & Retention

7. Recruiting & Retention Initiatives • Promotion: • Submitted package to AF/DP for AM & ATC to get special promotion consideration for E-8 and E-9 • Results: • AF/DP authorized a Chronic Critical Skills List similar to that for E-5s thru E-7s • CCSL used in promotion cycle in 03E8 • ATC additional stripes: FY03: E8 - 5 FY04: E8 - 6 FY04: E9 - 3

8. Recruiting & Retention Initiatives Cont. • Initiative: • Continue ATC on the Chronic Critical Skills List • Action completed: • Package submitted to HQ AF/DPRS • Status: • ATC added to CCSL for 2 years • ATC Additional stripes: FY02: E5 - 55 E6 - 16 E7 - 14 FY03: E5 - 40 E6 - 8 E7 - 10 FY04: E5 - ?? E6 - 14 E7 - 11

9. Recruiting & Retention Initiatives Cont. • Initiative: • Increase annual training production rate for technical school • Action completed: • Package submitted to HQ AF/DPRS • Status: • Increased ATC TPR to 650 • Reduced to Sustainment rate 415 NPS • 50 –75 Retainees

10. Recruiting & Retention Initiatives Cont. • Initiative: • Foreign language pay for Spanish speaking AO personnel • Action completed: • Package submitted to AFPC • Status: • ATC receives FLIP • Only AFSC in AF paying when not in language position

11. Recruiting & Retention Initiatives Cont. • Initiative: • Add ATC to Prior Service Program • Action completed: • Package submitted to HQ AF/DP • Status: • ATC on Prior Service Program • ATC FY03: 15

12. Recruiting & Retention Initiatives Cont. • Initiative: • Add ATC to the Voluntary Retired Enlisted Airman Extended Active Duty (VREAD) program • Action completed: • Submitted request to AF/DP • Status: • ATC added to VREAD program • 4 retired ATCers returned to active duty • Program discontinued FY04

13. SSgt TSgt MSgt SMSgt CMSgt ATC Recruiting & Retention Initiative Effectiveness Second Term First Term 75% 55% Manning % by grade Career Airmen 95% USAF Goal RAW Data: Jul 04

14. Limited FAA Hiring Reenlistment Rates Stop Loss SRB 6 SDAP 3 Effective 30 Apr 04: SRB 4 1st Term Historic Average: 53% SRB 5 Stop Loss * No year in database that met AF goal Historic Average: 56% Effective 30 Apr 04: SRB 6 2d Term SRB 6 CCSS SDAP 3 SRB 7 CCSS SDAP 3 SRB 5 SRB 6 SDAP 3 Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) Chronic Critical Skills Shortage (CCSS) Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP) Level 1-7 Extra Promotion Percentage Level 1-6

15. Career Airman Reenlistment Rates (3rd Term) Stop Loss Historic Average: 89% Effective 30 Apr 04: SRB 5 SRB 6 CCSS SDAP 3 SRB 2 SRB 5 CCSS SDAP 3 Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) Chronic Critical Skills Shortage (CCSS) Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP) Level 1-7 Extra Promotion Percentage Level 1-6 Limited FAA Hiring • 1st and 2d term retention drives career manning • Career manning (TSG – CMS): 71% 95% Reenlistment of 71%…Can’t Get There From Here

16. Storm On The HorizonFAA “Tsunami Wave” • Projected FAA Hiring 7K - 11K From Now to 2011 (‘02 GAO Report) • 7,100 will retire/quit in next 9 years, only replaced 2,100 in last 8 years (DOT IG testimony, Mar 04) • Funding issues and reorg have limited/delayed hiring • Career Airman a Ready Source • Phoenix Controller (PC-20) Program: CSAF directed…double edged • Inducement to stay to 20 yr pt but no longer • FAA can hire retired mil controllers (waiver age 31 hire limit)…not a guaranteed hire and 10-year term position • Large AF exposure: 22% of qualified (492/2,282) • 180 retirement eligible today • 312 within 3 yrs of retirement Robust FAA Hiring Threatens Mission Capability

17. The Outlook .

18. Air Traffic Control Outlook • Qualified 5-level manning is projected to increase due to greater accessions • Qualified 7-9 level supervisor manning is forecast to decrease • Training initiatives proposed to decrease qualification time • AETC initiated specialized training in Oct 01 • Did not produced expected results • Tower simulators 50% fielded • “Front Load Training” program initiated at unit level • Some success, still needs attention • AT Coach being installed; SIGNAL used as Stop-Gap

19. The Road Ahead .

20. The Road Ahead for ATC • Concerns • Recruiting is not the problem…Retention remains the focus • DOT/FAA plan to replace aging controller workforce may impact DoD readiness – 15,000 – 17,000 between now and 2011 • The Fix • Enhance retention initiatives quickly (XO & DP IPT) • Maintain SRB and increase SDAP • Target specific year groups for CSRB • Readdress needs/priorities • Establish controller priority plan; convert low density facilities • Validate billets based on specific ATC skills required • Implement training initiatives to reduce qualification training time • Field tower simulators • Improve Tower/RAPCON technical school training

21. Questions .