Why won't the Air Force establish warrant officers, when they have a shortage of 1,300 pilots?

Cadet PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 20:24:24 -0400

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2017 8:26 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 20:26:42 -0400

Because that makes sense.

Response by SSG Diane R. made Oct 21 at 2017 8:37 PM

SSG Diane R. — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 20:37:46 -0400

The Air Force marches to the beat of a different drummer.

Response by CW5 Ranger Dave made Oct 21 at 2017 10:19 PM

CW5 Ranger Dave — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 22:19:11 -0400

Worked for me. Fly Army!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2017 12:16 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 00:16:30 -0400

AF is going to continue what AF does best; run a desert dry of sand.

Response by TSgt Tommy Amparano made Oct 23 at 2017 1:40 PM

TSgt Tommy Amparano — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 13:40:26 -0400

Think about this for a second. If they can't keep officers in as pilots, what makes you think that you are going to keep WOs in? Once they get that pilot certification they are going to cash in as well don't you think.

Response by TSgt Franklin Nelson made Oct 23 at 2017 2:01 PM

TSgt Franklin Nelson — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:01:43 -0400

It has to due with the establishment of the Chief Master Sgt (E-9) rank. The thinking was something like an E-9 could do the same job as a WO, and we are not that heavy in helicopters.(Yes we have helicopters, but not as many as the Army)Chief Master Sgt could do the same work of WO's , and if I remember right the last CWO4 in the AF retired in 85(reservist). The Air Force has the ability to appiont WO's, they just don't want to activate the program.

Response by TSgt Kerry Hardy made Oct 23 at 2017 6:20 PM

TSgt Kerry Hardy — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 18:20:52 -0400

USAF is looking at starting to using Warrant Officers again...

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/09/17/air-forces-top-enlisted-looks-for-solutions-to-the-frustration-and-stress-many-airmen-feel/

Air Force’s top enlisted looks for solutions to the frustration and stress many airmen feel

The Air Force is stressed out, stretched thin and tired, says Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2017 7:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 19:56:04 -0400

My guess is that the Air Force wants to keep those 1,300 slots as officer billets. Once the Air Force starts accepting Warrants, it becomes an easy way for Congress to ratchet down on defense spending because Warrants are cheaper to pay than most officers (except those pesky CW5s that stick around for 50 years). It has greater implications later down the road as key joint billets and foreign attache positions are allotted to each service based on the total allotted officer billets a branch has. Fewer officer positions on the low end means fewer officer billets on the higher end, which in turn means the Air Force could lose a few stars (general billets) they want to hold onto.

Response by Capt Jim McLaurin made Oct 23 at 2017 8:28 PM

Capt Jim McLaurin — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 20:28:24 -0400

Because their collective egos wont let it happen.

Response by SGT Eric Knutson made Oct 24 at 2017 10:02 AM

SGT Eric Knutson — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 10:02:20 -0400

Not sure why actually, the Air Force, and before them the Army Air Corps have always insisted that only Commishioned Officers will pilot an aircraft. Even though the Navy and the Marines, as well as many other countries did or still do have flying NCO's, who have done quite well over the years. The Army relented and in the 50's or 60's started WO flight programs for the helicopters, which from what I have heard from several dual rated, is the harder of the 2 to learn to control. I think that they should, and not just for the flight officers, but like the rest of the branches, there are many job skills that Warrents can bring to a higher level.

Response by SPC Joseph F Dolloff made Oct 24 at 2017 10:53 AM

SPC Joseph F Dolloff — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 10:53:18 -0400

Sounds like a logistics job for Military Intelligence? Oooops, sorry! Oxymoron.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Dec 10 at 2017 1:26 PM

PVT Raymond Lopez — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 13:26:43 -0500

BECAUSE THEY LIKE BIG WATCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Response by A1C Shane Nail made Mar 19 at 2018 11:55 PM

A1C Shane Nail — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 23:55:54 -0400

The Air Force never did anything the easy (makes sense) way.