Just read this reply.
Thumping was not and is not part of training. (I was an instructor pilot as well) The air in P’cola is bumpy enough in the summer. This particular incident was a flat hatting maneuver pure and simple and my instructor thought it was funny.
As far as the best pilots getting out, service members of all types and shapes get out after their initial commitment regardless of the era in which they served. It is expected and the Vietnam era was no exception. The retention rate in the VN era was higher for sure, but it did not hurt the Navy in the long run. In the air world, retention was and is a problem. That’s why bonuses were instituted in the early 80’s.
Your husband was a top 10%er. Congratulations. But, the way FITREPS went, just about every officer was in the top 10%. To be ranked lower than a 10% was to be considered a bottom feeder. FITREP grade inflation was around then and is around now.
My old man was a Vietnam veteran and stayed in. It was he and his fellow officers who guided the Navy through the Carter years, the Zumwalt era and the race riots. It was they who returned the US Navy into the finest Navy ever and brought about change, not those who got out.
Your husband noted the Navy was getting PC. My pop felt the same. He retired in 1979 and when I used to compare notes with him, he was shocked. “That’s not the way WE did it.” And when I got out, I thought the Navy had become too PC.
Just to clear one thing up...I said that the top 10% of the best pilots in the world got out at that time.
My husband was in the < top 1%...in the world. His peers retired as Admirals.
One thing was sure...the billets they were handing out to those who were the best of the best were black shoe billets.
Not exactly career enhancing, thus the exodus.
God bless your pop...please thank him for me.