It's beyond me why this would even be considered. Even thinking about using folks who have signed on figuring to be pilots, especially UPT Grads, is absolutely not the way to go! It should be an emergency option and way down on the list. I recently read an article in the mainstream media concerning drone pilot staffing issues. The biggest takeaway was that the USAF was having great difficulty in recruiting to this program, coupled with a very high washout rate. I think both these issues, if true, are absurd and completely unnecessary. What the heck is going on? The military has even made use of civilian pilots on numerous occasions throughout history when it suited them. They could easily fill drone pilot positions with competent, capable, reliable and trustworthy folks and in short order. The absolute last thing in the world I would want to see is someone in the military lose a job they wanted to a civilian, though that is apparently not the case here. A USAF Colonel once remarked to me, "There is a lot of talent in the civilian world." If that is the case, which it is, why doesn't the USAF avail themselves of it? Maybe a lack of creativity is the real issue. The USAF might take the "Air America" approach; say by contacting current flight instructors. That list would be pretty easy and quick to go through, and probably yield some very good results. IMO, the USAF should not let the possibility of a UPT Grad be an option, or even leak out. If one were to expect to fly manned aircraft and then received drones, I think that would also affect pilot recruiting, morale and probably a host of other issues. In short, there is absolutely no reason for this issue; there are plenty of folks, civilians, who could be trained for the drones, function effectively and would be satisfied doing it. Although first choice should absolutely go to military personnel.