This isn’t very hard to figure out. The problem is the nonsensical Naval Aviation career track and a post COVID airline job market compounded by a population that is producing fewer and fewer qualified candidates every year. Whether the Navy likes it or not, the people they are looking for do not join the Navy because they love briefing, debriefing, ground jobs, or anything else that does not involve the cockpit. I’m guessing if you ask, flying is all they care about. If you are a first tour JO and didn’t get the number 1 EP, the Navy has already chosen your fate. BUPERS will tell other tall tales, but that is the reality. You will never have command. There is nothing on the other side of a DH tour that appeals to a first tour JO knowing he is not the golden child. I don’t make the rules. Combine this with what was a very healthy job market in the private sector for former military pilots, including all major airlines. When I was hired at my company three years ago, the last thing I flew professionally was a C-337 part time. Prior to that, it was my last flight in and SH-60B. By then, that aircraft was already in a museum for years. I didn’t even have to work my way up from the regionals. If I can make it on that resume, how do you think the market looks to fighter guys? I don’t hear much about retention bonuses anymore, but the one I took was enough to get a guy to the DH tour to where an actual financial cost/benefit analysis was enough to keep experience and talent where needed. Sad to say, but if you want to keep people in uniform, you have to offer something to compete with the pilot job market. Money may not even be enough, but it is something the Navy can offer right now. This issue has been circulating through NAval Aviation since before I was winged. The fact is, the only thing the navy has ever done about it is hope for a terrible economy and downplay the civilian job market. On Wed, Jul 22, 2026 at 12:17 AM <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> wrote:
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2026/july/strike-fighter-aviation... _______________________________________________ Helobubbas mailing list -- helobubbas@helobubbas.com To unsubscribe send an email to helobubbas-leave@helobubbas.com