While there may be a shortage of pilots, there is not a scarcity of pilots.
Big distinction between the two.
UPS is currently short pilots, but only because management drug its feet on 1. hiring, 2. securing additional training capacity, and 3. training more instructors as delivery of the 747s ordered in late 2016 apparently snuck up on them. That is to say the current UPS pilot 'shortage' is 100% self-inflicted and temporary.
There is absolutely NO shortage in qualified (defined very loosely as ATP with 2500tt with 1000 multi-turbine, or equivalent military experience) applicants to UPS and three new sims should be up and running (allegedly) by the end of November to help alleviate the training backlog.
As for FlightPath...that program was announced over a year ago as the Ameriflight Gateway Program. UPS interns work in UPS Training, Flight Ops, or other departments for a year or more, then go to Ameriflight, then have the opportunity to return to UPS.
As a former Co-op (intern), I think it provides a fantastic opportunity for people who want to fly for UPS to get into brown polyester as a line pilot as quickly as possible.
UPS interns doing the Gateway/FlightPath will provide a small but steady stream of young, highly motivated pilots to Ameriflight, which will help keep UPS' feeder fleet moving. Those pilots will gain valuable experience flying UPS volume, and should become VERY competent pilots. UPS helps keep their feeder fleet staffed, and the ability for those former interns to (fairly quickly) return to UPS as a line pilots is the the carrot that will keep that small but steady stream flowing. If UPS doesn't pick up an overwhelming majority of those Gateway/FlightPath pilots, word will spread quickly and interest in the internship will rapidly wane...causing a negative impact on UPS' contracted feeder lift through AMF.
For AMF and UPS it is low risk/high reward, for interns and potential interns I see it as medium risk/YUGE reward and clearly with today's Courier-Journal article being picked up by USA Today is generating positive publicity.