Posted on Nov 8, 2017
Why doesn't the USAF train either enlisted or have Warrant Officer pilots similar to the U.S. Army in order to counter the shortage ?
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When arrived at my first duty station, as a 47151 general purpose vehicle mechanic, our maintenance officer was a elementary school teacher by training. His replacement was a W04. Quite a difference in knowledge required to do the job. Only ever met a couple WO's, but they were very technically versed in the function of maintaining mechanical equipment.
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SSG Thomas A Gilmore
Back in the early , served with a former air force avn mechanic, who said ''a Warrent Officer, in the airforce , was a walking, talking ,teck manila''
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CW3 (Join to see)
As a current Automotive Maintenance Warrant Officer (915A), I have came to the conclusion that the reason the Airforce doesnt have warrant officers is fairly simple. The Army has way too much going on besides maintenance and without warrants, no emphasis would be placed on ground maintenance. There is no emphasis put on MOS proficiency in Army. Everything is about MEDPROS, SHARP, EO, etc. The Auto Warrant Officer fights to keep the ground equipment in working order. The Airforce has MOS proficiency tests. They can monitor is an Airman is MOS proficient or not. Those that are move up and those that arent do not. We promote people on the basis that they are profient Soldiers not if they are good at their job.
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PO2 Dan Shulla
SrA David Libby - Are you referring to CWOs that were prior enlisted? If so, we had some more recent at the Air Station south of Great Lakes. I forget the name of the base. I tended bar at the "O" club. That was around '89
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Allan DeGroot
It is all about "trade school" (Academy) mutual protection society, Some of the most gifted professional pilots the USAF ever had were men who started as enlisted men, Example: I give you "Charles Elwood Yeager"
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The USAF is stepping up to employ enlisted pilots of UAVs. In fact, a class has already graduated UPT. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/05/05/fresh-off-graduation-these-are-the-air-force-s-first-enlisted-rpa-pilots/
BTW, For the record, I believe CMSAF Cody is way off base shooting down the idea of revival of the Warrant ranks.
BTW, For the record, I believe CMSAF Cody is way off base shooting down the idea of revival of the Warrant ranks.
Fresh off graduation, these are the Air Force's first enlisted RPA pilots
On May 5, the first three enlisted airmen in Air Force history — identified as Master Sgt. Alex, Master Sgt. Mike, and Technical Sgt. Mike — graduated from undergraduate RPA training at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas.
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SSgt David Preston
I think the USAF is waking up to the fact that many enlisted men and women could be very capable pilots. I used to do run up and trims on F-101 and F-106 aircraft. I flew the simulator. I was an E-5 under 4, authorized to sign off Red X conditions. I am a private pilot with an A&P license (not current at this time). Had I been given the opportunity to try out as a pilot, I would have made the USAF my career .
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SSgt Jim Gilmore
SSgt David Preston - I too was run qualified on the EC/RC/KC-135 & C-141 and C-5. I got to fly the 135 sim for engine run cert and the 141 sim just for grins. I wasn't on Red X orders until I got my 7 level. I had hoped to get taxi certified but that privilege disappeared when some joker decided to take a plane on a joy ride during taxi & brake checks.
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The pilots in the USAF are a protected class. Pure elitism is the only reason there are not enlisted pilots now. In fact, enlisted pilots existed from 1912 to 1958.
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TSgt Nicholas Nieves
WHEN I WAS STATION AT WIESBADEN AIR BASE, GERMANY 1970 TO 1973, WE HAD THE LAST PILOT WARRANT OFFICER FLYING CONVAIR C-131C, HE STARTED OUT AS A FLYING SERGEANT IN WW-II AND WAS MADE WARRANT OFFICER WHEN THE AIR FORCE GOT RID OF THEIR FLYING SERGEANTS, THEY TRIED TO MAKE HIM RETIRED EARLY BT HE STAYED IN UNTIL HE HAD TO RETIRE BECAUSE OF AGE...HE WAS AT LEAST 62 AND STILL FLYING
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