These articles are dated already. We have been requalling guys in the T-1 for about a year now. They leave the UAV and come to us for refresher training before they go onto their real airplane assignment. I talked to one of our students this morning about the latest in the drone world.
-- Very very few students are getting RPA/UAVs out of UPT.
-- Most are coming through the dedicated pipeline. These guys will never be pilots. Some are old navigators.
-- When production through the pipeline can't meet the demand, they pull major weapon system guys who already have experienced flight time into the drone world.

As far as the ten year commitment... That started in 2000. Plenty of pilots have completed their commitment and are eagerly waiting employment as soon as someone will hire them. I know at my base alone, we have over 25 guys, that I know of, that are waiting for a call. Multiply that by the plethora of US military bases throughout the world and you have a very large number of highly qualified, combat tested, experienced pilots patiently waiting their turn.