Report Details Systemic Issues Among Aircrew Flight Equipment Airmen - Air Force Magazine

Thank you my friend Maj Robert Thornton for posting the link to the airforcemag.com web article by Brian W. Everstine
13 years ago in 2008, the merger of the aircrew life support and survival equipment Air Force Specialty Codes as the AFE career field was established. Members of that USAF career field 'are in charge of outfitting pilots, aircrew, and special warfare operators with life support and other flight equipment.'

Aircrew flight equipment Airmen face deep problems maintaining proficiency, largely stemming from inadequate training and high operations tempo.
1. Training to overcome training deficiencies seems doable even if challenged by OPTEMPO in what are most likely a high demand, relatively low density career field.
2. OPTEMPO is not something that can be easily worked around.
3. Since it is an enlisted-only career field, I think the the RAND recommendation [is reasonable] for "USAF could develop a “select set of officers with AFE-specific expertise and experience.” “The intent would be to produce officers who would be well situated as advocates for the career field and who could ensure a long-term investment in the AFE career field beyond the tactical level of leadership and execution,” the report states.

FYI Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Col Carl Whicker SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SMSgt David A Asbury MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SSgt Clare May TSgt David L. TSgt George Rodriguez TSgt Joe C.

This needs to be addressed ASAP

Disturbing given that every aircrew member puts their lives in the hands of these technicians every time they climb into an aircraft.