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BULLSEYE Creech News 5October 9, 2015
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RPA maintainers accomplish mission despite low retention
By Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen In a recent study, Air Combat Com- lack of incentives to stay in despite the RPA maintenance to help with retention.
mand discovered the MQ-1 and MQ-9 need for their career field. The leadership also tries to make sure
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing maintenance retention rates were lower
than any fighter aircraft with approxi- The loss of the young Airmen and the Airmen know how they are making
Public Affairs mately 32 percent of first-time enlistees NCOs takes a toll on the rest of the force an impact in the world, no matter how
and 14 percent of second-term enlistees and creates an environment where it’s monotonous or mundane a task may
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. re-enlisting. These rates are roughly 15 challenging to keep a high level experi- seem.
— The constant and insatiable demand percent lower for first-term and 36 per- ence within the career field.
for remotely piloted aircraft airpower cent lower for second-term enlistees ver- “These Airmen are saving lives every
places stressors on nearly every career sus the rates of the next aircraft platform “A lot of skills and techniques take single day and enabling others to save
field within the RPA enterprise. For with the lowest retention rates. time to acquire,” Hill said. “It takes do- lives,” Hill said. “The maintainer who
some Airmen of the 432nd Maintenance ing the job over and over, and if we don’t thinks they’re just fixing a maintenance
Group, the fast-paced deployment rota- “Most of the Airmen leaving the mili- have the people doing that and you lose stand is actually fixing the stand so that
tion, constant shift work, time away from tary are senior airmen and staff sergeants that expertise, mistakes will happen a crew chief can get the plane to fly, so
family, limited assignment options and at the end of their first enlistments and eventually, and we don’t ever want to get the aircrew can train and gain experience
struggle of daily process changes, are they can take their military training and to that point.” flying, so they can keep someone on the
more than enough to make some choose apply it relatively quickly in a contracting ground safe downrange and be able to
not to re-enlist. job,” said Chief Master Sgt. Stacy Dent, The struggles aren’t going unnoticed. return home to their families.”
432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Leadership from the Air Force, wing,
“We’re definitely seeing some issues chief enlisted manager. group, squadron and units are taking Not only are the 432nd MXG main-
with retention here in RPA maintenance action. tainers saving lives daily, they’re laying
as well as the rest of the Air Force,” said Some Airmen within the 432nd MXG the foundation of remotely piloted air-
Chief Master Sgt. John Burks, 432nd said it’s hard to want to stay in the mili- “There is a lot that the Air Force, power for the future.
MXG chief enlisted manager. “There tary when they could take their degree wing and squadron leadership is doing,”
are a lot of job opportunities where the to a civilian company and have a more Burks said. “First, the commander of Air Despite the challenges of the 432nd
Airmen can continue to do great work stable schedule and workload, as well as Combat Command implemented the MXG they continue to complete the mis-
in the RPA enterprise but through DOD more pay. Others say it’s because they have Cultural Process Improvement Program sion and pass inspections with over 90
contractors. At the end of the day, these only three assignment locations available which is an initiative to assemble subject percent mission-capability rates.
Airmen are going to choose what’s best within the RPA career field. Each location matter experts across the Air Force for
for them and their families.” is in a desert environment, with low man- base visits and interviews so we can take “I have never been with a more skilled,
ning, calling for 12-hour duty days with actionable ways to improve the RPA disciplined, professional group of war-
The 432nd MXG is comprised of two-hour transit to and from work, little enterprise.” riors than here at the 432nd Maintenance
nearly 20 different Air Force Specialty time at home between deployments, and Group,” Burks said. “Every day they are
Codes and is responsible for maintaining Burks went on to say the wing lead- phenomenal and I could not be more
the MQ-1B Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. ership is also continuing to argue for proud to serve with the men and women
selective re-enlistment bonuses for of the 432nd.”
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen
The constant and insatiable demand for remotely piloted aircraft airpower has placed stressors on nearly every career field within the enterprise. For the RPA maintenance career
fields, these stressors are causing the retention rates to plummet causing rates lower than that of any other aircraft in Air Combat Command.
