Originally Posted by
Cujo665
I'm glad to be out of the regional world, but I will say the military is stupid to turn away good pilots simply on entry age. There are lots of guys would take a reserve slot flying the heavies. Leave the fighters and direct combat stuff to the youngsters.
They've considered abbreviated courses, but I think their recruiting and retention challenges are over for a long time.
Also... the military "shortage" was not like the civilian shortage, they never had a problem filling new-hire slots, it was retention of mid/senior officers. Since military pilots are more managers/war planners/war leaders than just pilots, that senior experience is vital in the military aviation enterprise. They don't need 45 y/o RJ drivers in flight suits to fly their transports, they need experienced majors and colonels in leadership and HQ staff jobs... RJ drivers can't do that.
But as I said, problem solved for now.
Originally Posted by
Cujo665
If a guy can fly a 737/767 or any number of RJ, Biz jet and turboprop equivalents all over the world carrying passengers; what's the reason they can't fly the same plane for the military wearing a flight suit instead of a company uniform?
Not quite that easy, all US airlifters have tactical roles and missions, in addition to hauling pallets from A to B. AARF, expeditionary operations, paratroop ops, etc.