I know a number of former military people who were not pilots in the service (other rated officers or enlisted flyers and non-flyers) but are now trying to make a go of a pilot career as a civilian. Then again, I think they all have a 4 year degree as well.

Military pilots are either from the commissioned officer ranks or warrant officers. Commissioned officers require a 4 year degree to be commissioned. Warrant officers do not require a 4 year degree, though many have one and it helps to be competitive for a slot.

Army Aviation's warrant officer program is the only way to fly in the military without a 4 year degree.

No offense to the qualifications and skills of people in the military, but most service members are not in a professional career field in the sense of a field that involves specialized knowledge that requires licensing and government regulation. Most enlisted are closer to technicians, and most officers are more generalized managers than they are professionals in that sense (notable exceptions being officers who have traditional civilian professional careers: doctors, lawyers, clergy, ect.)

For that matter, most professional careers don't require a generalized 4 year degree. Professional career fields usually require a professional degree (MD, DDS, JD, ect.)

Assuming you have prior service before selection really, and even then don't expect to get past a junior rank with no degree.

How about making aviation training more comprehensive. Getting a 2-year or 4-year degree in whatever doesnt make this profession safer. If you look over in Europe they have a longer and harder program to get you ATPL, and a 4-year degree is not required most places. And they are still valued higher than U.S. pilots....

What about air traffic controllers in the military and the FAA? Flight Engineers in the military? Neither require a degree of any kind.

I knew an individual that went through the FAA ATC academy. He had a PHD in education. Smart as could be but did not have a clue when it came to air traffic control. He was mathematically eliminated in week 8 of a 12 week program.

A four year degree is only required because some HR lady has one and believes that only people who have one are qualified. Where-as self-motivation, self-education, passion, common-sense and general intelligence is far more important.

As Frank Zappa once said, "If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want to learn something, go to the library."

A four year degree for what? A $20,000 a year job. The requirement should be to read and memorize.

1. Flying the line.

2.Confessions of a union buster.

Then you may have a career that is worth a 4 year degree.

Clearly, gaining X numbers credit of classroom instruction in random things to gain a diploma does not make one an air traffic controller, or a pilot. But, it is a good requirement, particularly for the youngest applicants in their 20's, IMHO. Probably not so important for an experienced 40, 50, or 60 year old.

In my ATC academy class, even former military ATC's failed the program. Heck, I know of one guy who worked over 20 years in Area A at Oakland Center (where I worked at the time), retired for a year, and then came back to be a part time employee. He couldn't check out. Sad. It's a learned and practiced trade, best learned when young, and continously practiced as one ages.

There is a reason for the 31 year old cut off for ATC, although I'm sure it could be much higher than that.