Move Will Hinge On A Two Studies Currently Underway

The U.S. Air Force is looking at the possibility of once again including enlisted airmen in the ranks of its pilots in an effort to address one of the service's greatest pilot shortages since its inception.

Military.com reports that a study slated to be completed at the end of April is looking at the feasibility of bringing back the warrant officer corps in an effort to address the shortage. A separate Air Force study is looking at how enlisted pilots could benefit from high-tech training.

Chief Master Sgt. Kaleth O. Wright, the 18th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force said that there are enlisted airmen in Guard and Reserve units who hold pilot certificates and fly for airlines. "So it’s not a matter of can they do it, or hav[ing] the smarts or the capability, it’s just a matter of us, as an Air Force, deciding that that’s a route that we want to take,” he said.

Wright said that the primary challenge would be to craft a career development path for those airmen. The service will also study whether enlisted airmen would be allowed to deploy weapons from the aircraft they fly. “Whether it’s manned or unmanned, if there’s an enlisted airman that’s going to be flying and employing weapons, it requires certain authorities we would have to get by,” Wright said.

He added that cost-benefit analysis would also be a factor in any final decision. He estimated that such a program might be implemented in the next five to 10 years.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report