Why the hangup on total hours, age criteria, and college degrees when "quality of training and depth of experience" should be the criteria ?

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has one of the finest pilot training programs in the world. They start the selection process at age 15 and enter at 18. The program is three years long and only 10-12% make it to graduation. Some of the top fighter pilots in the world are twenty-one and do not have a college degree. In past years many of their top pilots have been "teenagers." A significant number become El AL pilots while continuing as IAF reserve pilots.

Prior to 1962 the USAF trained thousands of pilots and navigators in the Aviation Cadet program. No college was required. One year of training was rewarded with 2nd Lt.'s bars and pilot or navigator wings. You had to be twenty-one by graduation date. I know one pilot who "lied his age" and was an F-86 fighter pilot at Homestead AFB (Miami) at age ninteen.

I'm not sure (someone else could confirm) but I think the Army has Warrant Officer helicopter pilots trained and flying combat by age twenty-one.

Instead of "flaming" these young folks becuse they have goals, lets encourage them and give them advice on what training and experience to get.