How does the Air Force create a new community for next generation of drone pilots?

This is fascinating. We can't afford to keep training drone pilots in actual planes (other than small stuff) so it makes a lot of sense.

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LT Brad McInnis PO3 Bob McCord CW3 Dick McManus SGT John " Mac " McConnell CWO3 Dennis M. MSgt Stephen Council LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephan PorterLTC Stephen C. LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SGT Jim Arnold Maj Robert Thornton Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SFC Francisco Rosario LTC (Join to see) SGT Mark Halmrast

Thank you, my friend CW5 Jack Cardwell for making us aware that the U.S. "Air Force is facing quite a dilemma right now when it comes to drone pilots. It has to figure out how to build a drone pilot community and training capabilities without putting its remote pilots through the full course of training it requires for operators of its traditional manned systems.
Drone pilots, without the experience as manned pilots first, “are now lieutenants and captains and within the next couple years you’ll have actual leadership that is purely [drone] pilots,” said. Lt. Col. Bishane “Doc” Whitmore, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron Commander in an interview with Federal News Radio. “The individuals that are coming up now, and the unique skill set of the enlisted [drone] pilots coming up, are going to create a unique cultural shift in the Air Force.”
When drones first started taking off as a viable weapons system, the Air Force temporarily took pilots — at the time, all commissioned officers— from other areas of the service for a few years to fill the demand.
Whitmore said those pilots are now going back to their original specialties and a new culture of drone pilots is emerging. Additionally, the demand for drone pilots is increasing rapidly.
“We have to make sure that we are arming them with the skill sets to be successful as these manned [pilots] go back to their aircraft and we truly are our own community,” he said.
To give these first generation, pure drone pilots the skills they need, the Air Force is using the Squadron Innovation Fund to increase drone pilots’ experience with the Aviation Fundamentals Training program.
The Squadron Innovation Fund is a $64 million kitty spread out among all the squadrons in the service to invest in innovative ideas."
FYI Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SrA John Monette SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. MSgt Jason McClish SSgt Brian Brakke Maj Robert ThorntonCMSgt (Join to see)TSgt Rodney BidingerMSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-HardySSgt Boyd Herrst Sgt Albert CastroLt Col Jim Coe MSgt John McGowanMSgt David M.Capt James WoodardSrA (Join to see) Lt Col (Join to see)

CW5 Jack Cardwell A whole new world.