Let me clarify a little. I completely understand that I am an officer first and a pilot second. Until my ADSC runs its course I will hold up my end of the deal and execute whatever job I am given to the best of my ability. I am currently downrange, and certainly not complaining about that. (Even though I feel like I am watching a game from the sidelines sometimes - therein lies some of the frustration.)
My underlying point was simply frustration of not being able to align something that I really enjoy, something I am good at, something I am locked in to, with serving my country. Military flying interests me FAR more than just about anything on the civilian side, I will stay as long as they let me pursue something that I am interested in. I am not naive or stupid enough to think that the Air Force gives a flying ****** about me personally staying in or leaving AD. HA! I'm simply one of many cogs in the machine.
Furthermore, although I am willing to put my life on the line in the line of duty - I'm not going to spend a career doing something that I don't find engaging/challenging/interesting or if none of the former, at least fun. I value my time and effort too much for that. Different people have different strengths, talents etc... Some aspire for rank, some for money - all I want to do is fly tactical aircraft.
I think a WO in the Air Force is not a good idea. It is a generalization, but being a pilot is a HUGE recruitment tool for officers to apply to USAFA or other commissioning programs. Furthermore, I think it is appropriate and necessary for a commissioned officer to execute the combat arm of the Air Force. The level of responsibility required considering airframe cost and fratricide issues (not to mention the nuclear can of worms) necessitate this.
The amount of training and the sheer expense of that training makes it incredibly expensive to take someone who's just starting to become an expert in his or her career field and then pluck him or her for something else. My first job outside the cockpit was basically a maintenance flight commander to prep for an inspection (UCI). Was all the paperwork fun? No. Was I able to do it? Of course. Would others from other nonflying career fields be able to execute similarly - absolutely. Would they otherwise be able to execute in a combat MWS? Not without extensive and lengthy training.
The 1,000 pilot fighter pilot "shortage". There's not enough cockpits to go around, but a lot of jobs "require" 11F dudes. While this requirement may be true for some positions I think that often it is just a way of saying I want someone who did reasonably well in a difficult and lengthy formal training. This is faulty logic I think and unfairly limits these positions. It was a recommendation of a RAND study I read (Fighter Draw Down Dynamics) to give these jobs to contractors or re-evaluate this requirement. Guess how many positions the CAF eliminated? 2.
What would I do? Simple:
1) No more nonvol UPT trained guys to UAV's. There's a pipeline that costs around 10% that does the exact same job. There are plenty of motivated volunteers for these positions. Give the incentive back to be an ALO so people volunteer - say one year tour with operational follow on. Or two if you can't make that happen.
2) It was brought up before, but allow a career track for the aviator to stay flying, bounce back between operational units and AETC etc... Cap it at O-4, O-5 - whatever. (Oh and don't kick them out at 16 years!)
At the congressional level there is a huge fighter gap - we need fighter aircraft now to keep a proficient CAF. If this nation can't afford more fifth gen aircraft, let's start buying some Block 60's vipers and new eagles that we are selling Korea. Leverage EA instead of stealth if necessary. These programs are bankrupting the military. Why are we getting rid of the A-10 by the way? I think there are insurgents out here that have seen that it is a (slow) but helluva relevant airframe.
3) No more ENJJPT - make UPT more equitable.
An Air Force that may look OK on paper can be horribly weak and hollow without the test of true combat. I would submit that we haven't had a challenge since maybe the opening days of Desert Storm back in the '90's. That expertise is LONG gone. We need experience in our CAF, just as we need experience on the mobility side. Let those who want to pursue command tracks do so. Jack of all trades master of none is excellent for a GO - it is a heinous and costly idea for a CGO!
Side note - +1 for Gen Welsh being an extraordinary GO.