Officials authorize RPA sensor operator incentive pay

  • Published
  • By Elaine Belcher
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  The office of the secretary of defense announced Feb. 24 the authorization of incentive pay for officer and enlisted remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators, with retroactive pay starting Jan. 29, 2010.

The incentive pay is designed to foster professional development of career Airmen in the hopes of cultivating experienced sensor operators.

"The pay is an incentive to attract and retain Airmen who dedicate themselves to operating RPAs," said Lt. Col. Matt Martin, Air Combat Command chief of Predator/Reaper operations. "Sensor operators who have previous experience get that gate credit in addition to the incentive pay as well."

The bonuses are equivalent to the current aviator incentive pay programs and are available to Airmen in the officer 18X or the new enlisted 1UOX1 RPA sensor operator career fields. The incentive bonuses scale with an Airman's time within the career fields.

Until recently, RPAs were the only airframes where an enlisted member of the crew wasn't receiving a bonus. Although the pilots receive specialized flight training, the sensor operators perform duties similar to those of other career enlisted aviators.

"This sensor operator incentive pay is an attempt to equalize the gap between SOs and other enlisted airborne career fields," Colonel Martin said. RPA platforms and their crews have since proven themselves in the fight and now it's only fair that they receive equal pay."

"We're paying them for their expertise," said Chief Master Sgt. Victor Allen, career field manager for all career enlisted aviators. "The sensor operator position was often an additional duty for imagery analysis Airmen. But commanders want people who are devoted to staying in the career field.

There are currently more than 400 Airmen in the RPA career fields. Air Force leaders expect that number to rise to more than 1,000 as the need for more combat air patrols increases in the Air Forces Central area of responsibility over the next few years.