Pilot
Pilot
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Pilot
Warrant Officers
Airmen
Study of Veteran Attitudes and Behaviors
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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The AF ebbs and flows this problem with pilots every so many years- my third time during my career it has become critical and the sky is falling. The ebb part they do everything under the sun to get rid of them- the flow they create a caste system like they want to do with cyber warriors that do not have to meet military standards (because most computer nerds only wear pee stained underwear in their moms basement). I know this is a harsh critic of this story, but sometimes the truth hurts. I have served a long time. I have worked with some of the most dedicated people and those leaving for more money- that is the hazard of an all volunteer force. Strangely- we are experiencing this in maintenance and comm right now. The outside world is doing well- pay is going up. There is no longer a waiting list to get in....
PO3 Brad Smith Lt Col Scott ShuttleworthSGT Gregory Lawritson SGT Jim Arnold SSgt Brian BrakkeCMSgt (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) MSG Frederick Otero SFC Pete Kain SSG David Andrews SCPO Morris Ramsey PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. LTC Greg Henning PO2 Rick Fox SGT John " Mac " McConnell Lt Col Charlie Brown Sgt Albert Castro
PO3 Brad Smith Lt Col Scott ShuttleworthSGT Gregory Lawritson SGT Jim Arnold SSgt Brian BrakkeCMSgt (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) MSG Frederick Otero SFC Pete Kain SSG David Andrews SCPO Morris Ramsey PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. LTC Greg Henning PO2 Rick Fox SGT John " Mac " McConnell Lt Col Charlie Brown Sgt Albert Castro
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It seems that the military has a system for grading and maintaining top technical talent, that is the warrant officer system. The officer system, as I've always seen it, is for management positions (to be clear, officers are also leaders but WOs are leaders in many ways too, what sets the officers apart IMHO is the management aspects and strategic focus). So the Air Force is in many way out of sync with how the rest of the military seems to be dealing with this problem.
I do think there is a real problem with the AF switching over. It's one thing to join with the expectation that you will be an WO. It is entirely different being an 0-3 and one day being told that you are now a WO-2.
I do think there is a real problem with the AF switching over. It's one thing to join with the expectation that you will be an WO. It is entirely different being an 0-3 and one day being told that you are now a WO-2.
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CW5 Jack Cardwell
No switching necessary. Army has 0 grade and W grade pilots. AF could use Warrants for rotary wing and small fixed wing platforms.
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SPC Kevin Ford
CW5 Jack Cardwell - True. When I served in a rotary wing aviation unit I remember a ton of officers and warrants. I remember one LT what wasn't that great at management (nice guy though) and he ended up switching to a WO (likely after some officer career ending review for management issues). I just think it is a bit out of sync that fixed wing pilots are treated differently that other technical skill areas.
If a SM wants to focus on being the best mechanic they can be, a recognized expert, but don't want to deal too much with the pesky management stuff then the WO system is the way to go. I feel it *should* be the same for other technical skills too, like fixed wing piloting, but perhaps there is something I am missing.
If a SM wants to focus on being the best mechanic they can be, a recognized expert, but don't want to deal too much with the pesky management stuff then the WO system is the way to go. I feel it *should* be the same for other technical skills too, like fixed wing piloting, but perhaps there is something I am missing.
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