I am not underestimating the enlisted force. I am looking at morale and retention.
I don't think that they (enlisted) can't perform, I think that the pilots forced in to RPA world through 2016 (FY17) and showing up op world in 2017 (FY18) for their 1st assignment out of UPT will not be thrilled to know that the AF now believes an E5 can do the job.
I think that the enlisted member will not be thrilled sitting next to that O3 getting the new bonuses they just released, when they are not getting one.
I said earlier that I think they can do it, but I think it might need to be done in stages. UPT is dropping from what I read MQ9s (reaper). Reapers carry ammunition...I think drone strikes. Predators are different from what I know. They are more recon.
~ No flaming that is my assumption.
If he doesn’t get a pilot slot, his outlook is that being an officer RPA pilot is better than being stuck in the back seat of an F-15E or the back of an E-3. I told him that in the ‘90s before I retired, support officers in charge of the chow hall had better promotion rates than WSOs.
Sorry, but we will agree to disagree here.
My DH flew the 15E as a WSO (GIB), started off in the 111. He not only attended O4 PME in residence, but at Leavenworth as an exchange student.He was the only 1, rated, be it pilot or WSO from our base for PME that was selected to attend a sister school. He always had a DP for each rank.
~He commissioned in 1987, and winged as a WSO in Nov. 1988.
I am sure you have seen posts by some guy named Bullet here that works on the 35 at the Pentagon. That would be my DH...the WSO.
Last tidbit: Please Google Mike Good astronaut. BG Brian Killough, Col. Brian Kirkwood, or Colonel Ken Byrd. All were WSOs.
~ I know for a fact their year groups because during the course of Bullets career he served with them somewhere. They all were young in the 90s. I mean in UNT in 1988 young.
Yes, life is different now. The strike is basically your only fighter option, but I am not so sure I would agree with you on the go RPA over CSO if you went to fly manned. The RPA is undermanned, and releasing them to go UPT might be a crap shoot. Whereas, a CSO will get manned airframe hours and it might be easier to xtrain.
I do agree ABM is not where I would advise my child to go from a deployment/future career.
For those that wonder what a GIB is ...Guy/Gal in Back.
Old WSOs have patches that say things like:
WSO Union....shut up and drive!
Needless to say, I am a proud WSO wife and now a proud C130J pilot Mom.