Quality-of-life survey results are in

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. A.J. Bosker
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  The results of the 2002 Chief of Staff Quality-of-Life Survey have been compiled and show an increase in satisfaction with the Air Force as a job and way of life, survey officials said.

The survey, sent to more than 100,000 active-duty airmen and civilian employees in September, included questions about the job, career intent and quality-of-life priorities such as manpower, work environment and compensation, said Shontelle Rivers, chief of the Air Force quality-of-life program at the Pentagon.

Charles Hamilton, chief of the Air Force Personnel Center’s survey branch at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, said the 2002 survey shows increased satisfaction, virtually across the board.

“The (survey) responses were more positive than the 2000 survey,” Hamilton said. “And career intent was up among all demographic groups.”

Overall, 90 percent of airmen, including pilots, and 89 percent of civilians believe the Air Force is a good place to work and 81 percent of military and 91 percent of civilians report that their families are supportive of their careers, Rivers said. The responses are each higher than the previous two survey results.

The survey also showed that career intent increased among all groups from previous years, she said. Nearly 75 percent of all officers, 66 percent of the enlisted force and 82 percent of civilians report they will make the Air Force a career.

However, a common quality-of-life concern among all groups surveyed was manpower, Hamilton said.

Nonpilot officers and civilians ranked manpower as their No. 1 concern while pilots and enlisted airmen said operations tempo, and compensation and benefits, respectively, were their top two concerns.

More than one-third of all commanders and first sergeants who took the survey also reported manpower as their top quality-of-life concern, Rivers said.

“Nearly one-half of the people reported that they feel there are too few people in the workplace to get the job done, and the majority of military airmen and half of the civilians reported they are performing additional duties,” Hamilton explained.

Survey results indicate officers spend 7.9 hours per week, and enlisted members 8.3 hours per week, on additional duties. Civilians reported spending 3.3 hours per week on additional duties.

In spite of these numbers, the 2002 survey showed a 2.6-hour reduction in the average military workweek from the 2000 survey. Civilians reported a two-hour increase in their workweek.

Although the 2002 survey showed between an 11 percent and 46 percent decrease among the various demographic groups in the number of people who believed the military retirement system was unfair, it also highlighted another worry for personnel officials.

Nearly 70 percent of company grade pilots, 49 percent of company grade nonpilots, 89 percent of first-term airmen and 60 percent of second-term airmen reported they do not know which retirement system applies to them.

“I advise anyone who doesn’t know which plan applies to them to talk to their supervisor, first sergeant, commander or finance office,” Rivers said. “Our family support center financial advisers can also help point people in the right direction.”

In light of these numbers, Rivers also encouraged supervisors, first sergeants and commanders to talk to their people about their retirement options.

“The goal of the surveys isn’t to report only the good points,” she said. “We take these surveys seriously and use the information, both positive and negative, to focus our efforts to help people and improve their quality of life. The information gathered from this survey will be used by senior leaders to make the service a better way of life for all Air Force men and women and their families.”