rickair7777

The Navy has experimented with warrants several times, including recently as you mentioned. The last time around they were restricted to airframes which do not do arrested landings. Made sense, the pointy-nose community historically generates the large majority of aviator Flags. The program ended, not sure if any warrants are still flying (I'm sure they all could have just knocked out a degree and picked up a regular commission no problem as winged, fleet-qualed people).


Yup.

C130driver

It has been discussed before but Air Force Warrant officers is not a great idea.

First off, it would not solve the pilot shortage. If a major making close to six figures is running towards the airlines to be compensated better for his skill set, would a warrant making even less not figure out how much more he could make on the outside? Some people say it’s not about the money but that’s horse$$$$. Eventually it becomes about money to at least some degree, especially when you have a family to keep happy and feed. The warrant system works in the Army because, well, it’s a lot harder to become an airline pilot from the rotary world.

Second, the Army operates in a very tactical environment where you can have technical experts flying helicopters around while the Captain/Major types make the operational decisions. In the Air Force, our flying mission is much more strategic and needs officers with their pink rear on the line making those strategic decisions - and those decision makers need to be tactical experts. It’s not about flying the plane, most can be taught to fly a plane. Think about all the various jobs (flying related) needed to run a Squadron. Those jobs require a level of organizational management and critical thinking that comes from some degree of higher education.

Now, if they really want to keep people? They need to provide bonuses comparable to year 1-5 salary as an FO AND address the QOL/morale issues.

ugleeual

The problem is the pilot training pipeline... it’s too small now. The only fix is to increase pilot training slots (new base) and increase number of FTU slots for fighters and transport/refuel/bombers... its a chicken and egg issue.

Grumble

I don’t know a single one of my peers (myself included) that wanted to leave, especially fighter aviation. However the future looked too bleak.... OPTEMPO, political BS, lack of flying, increasing importance of non-tacictal issues to career progression, staff tours, etc etc etc and the ever present instability of the home life. Guys getting out are looking for better, more stable options. The fact those options pay better is just icing on the cake.

If you would’ve told me I could’ve stayed in the cockpit, stayed tactical, and stayed in one place for the wife and kids I’d never leave. To further exemplify this look no further than guard/reserve squadrons. Your average 3-5 year FO at a major these days takes about a $500/day hit mil dropping to go into the squadron, but we do it because we enjoy the work and the people. Being able to leave squadron issues at the squadron when you go home and turn your phone off is what AD desperately needs, among many things.

navigatro

this is so ridiculous. Sounds like something out of an ACSC manual. Army senior NCO's supervise/manage as many people as AF Squadron CC's.

rickair7777

They don't hypothetically employ nuclear weapons. Or have to decide whether or not to shoot that Russian or Chinese guy whose intentions are unclear. There is a difference.

C130driver

They do supervise/manage and many do a good job at it, but ultimately it’s the Company or Batallion commander that calls the shots, or should be anyways.

Han Solo

shack

Plus, how many RiFs and early retirements has the USAF offered since 2010? Then let's add to the pile: all the pilots who just did their job but didn't kiss all the right butts or fill the right (useless) squares and didn't get promoted to O-4/O-5 and left as a result. It defies all logic that the USAF showed the door to so many pilots who otherwise would have stayed and now they cry about not having enough. The situation reminds me of the perennial drinker who needs a liver transplant and thinks he should just move to the front of the line because well, he needs one. Sorry, but self inflicted wounds go to the back of the line buddy and this pilot shortage while not entirely self-induced certainly had plenty of help from "leadership" at big blue.

Sonny Crockett

Navy also had the NAVCAD program, two years of college (60 credit hours) right to AOCS and Flight Training, you needed to complete your degree by the 10th year of commissioning if you wanted to stay in.

Program pretty much was active 1986-1992. I think it still exists only for prior enlisted.

rickair7777

I recall it does still exist, or did a few years ago. But that commissions line officers, who have to get the degree and career-progress like anyone else. They are indistinguishable from someone commissioned from another source except the Navy granted some flexibility on when/how they get the degree.