By LCDR Jeff “Creature” Creighan
Naval Aviation officially unveiled the Professional Flight Instructor (PFI) program September 27. As Naval Aviation faces several inventory challenges, especially in the TACAIR community, our ability to fully man both production and operational billets is increasingly challenged. We are fully engaged in reversing this trend along multiple fronts (e.g., improving F-18 readiness, increasing production capacity, enhancing incentive programs, expanding professional/personal growth opportunities). Additionally, fleet feedback consistently indicates that many aviators want career path flexibility, and would serve beyond Department Head if allowed to remain flying as instructors instead of following the legacy career path through command. The PFI initiative aims to do just that by allowing some qualified pilots and NFOs to serve continuously as shore-based flight instructors beyond Department Head as an alternative to following the traditional sea/shore rotational path of operational service.
The PFI program is being implemented to improve retention by providing career flexibility, assignment stability for selected officers/families, and rewarding experiences training our newest Naval Aviators. The program will also significantly improve instructor manning levels in Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) commands—better leveraging the fleet experience and instructional skills of officers who otherwise may have left service for civilian opportunities.
The initial PFI program offering targets officers with projected rotation dates in 2019. To be eligible, Aviators must have completed or currently be serving in an Operational or Operational-Training Aviation Department Head assignment. They must also have previously served in a production billet at some point in their career, and have at least 36 months remaining before their statutory retirement date. Aviators selected as PFIs will receive an additional qualification designation (AQD) in their record delineating their new status. Upon selection, PFIs will no longer be eligible for command consideration but remain eligible for statutory promotion board consideration.
PERS-43 will conduct the first PFI selection board in November to begin filling critical instructor billets in 2019. Aviators selected on the inaugural board will be slated to CNATRA Training Wings according to production requirements and member preferences. PFIs will subsequently be allowed to continue instructor duties until retirement or voluntary program withdraw so long as they meet instructor performance standards as determined by CNATRA.
Naval Aviation’s newest alternative career path will provide unique and rewarding experiences for motivated aviation professionals. The tremendous amount of resources and money invested into every qualified aviator will continue to pay dividends for years to come as we shape our force and continue meeting the operational and training requirements of our service.
LCDR Creighan is a native of Pittsburgh, PA and a 2003 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University. He is F/A-18F Super Hornet WSO currently assigned to PERS-43 as the VFA O-4 Detailer and Professional Flight Instructor Program Manager.