DeMotivators

**Vantage** · 07-04-2014, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by IPD

P.S.
On an unrelated note, the USAF needs to bring back warrant officers. NOW.

Care to elaborate? Didn't the Navy just try that a few years ago, and then canceled the 'experiment' of having warrants almost immediately?

**NickS VR4** · 07-04-2014, 09:26 AM

Maybe as drone pilots?

**IPD** · 07-04-2014, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Vantage

Care to elaborate? Didn't the Navy just try that a few years ago, and then canceled the 'experiment' of having warrants almost immediately?

No, warrants are alive and well in the Navy. What the USN did was kill off flying WO's. Their reasoning for this is somewhat vague to me. Flying WO's are the backbone of Army aviation.

The problem with commissioned officers is that the DOD has an "up or out" policy with them (and unlike enlisted, you get only 2 chances). Which means that the USAF loses adept and knowledgeable aviators, etc--due to this policy. Some officers are terrific pilots but really suck at command. Warrant officers are not treated the same, and they are primarily charged with being SMEs (subject matter experts) in their respective fields--but they do not have the burden of command or other assorted BS that's associated with the things that commissioned officers must do. By bringing back WO's, the USAF can both save costs (since WO's earn less), but can also keep around talent longer--rather than sacrificing it on the altar of "career progression".

If you ask me, there's TOO MANY commissioned officers in the USAF, and the lack of WO ranks is a big reason why. And, imho, when you have that many CO's running around, it turns into a circus of "musical chairs" pushing people back and forth between different desk jobs--just to make sure they've got all their boxes checked before their next promotion cycle.