Friday, October 9, 2009

Navy Warrant Officer Pilot – Hits the Fleet

The Navy's first Warrant Officer Pilot has deployed with HSC-22. As an MH-60S pilot ex-AW Michael Adams who graduated as part of the Navy's first "Flying Chief Warrant Officers" program, is repeating history in the reprise of a long dead program within the Navy. Often used in the Army, flying Chief Warrant Officers are new-again in the Navy and a way to overcome the Pilot shortage facing not just the Navy but all of the services.

Read here for the news, or here or info on the program. I would have jumped into this program had it been available in my day. Or maybe not! I was twice offered to be sponsored into OCS programs and turned them both down. The last time I was lobbied by both my immediate CO (a Commander) and the Chief of Staff on the base I was stationed at the time (the Naval Air Development Center) who was a Captain. I had this aversion to khaki colored cloths.

But this is a great deal and I whole heartily endorse it, long time in coming.

BT: Jimmy T sends.

3 comments:

Buck said...

...and a way to overcome the Pilot shortage facing not just the Navy but all of the services.

Heh. It'll be a cold day in Hades before the other Blue-Suit service revives WOs.

I had a completely filled-out app for the Army WO program ready to be mailed off back around 1967 or so, but cooler heads (my NCOIC and his boss) talked me out of submitting it. Something about the life-expectancy of Army WOs being measured in days once you arrived at your in-country assignment, given the nature of the time's "Current Unpleasantness." No regrets here. :D

JimmyT said...

Buck, Ah yes, the wisdom of the Seniors. That would have made for interesting duty if you had survived.

On the Blue Suits, its too bad they don't let WO's do all the drone/UAV work and give the manned aircraft to you know the ones already castrated.

BT: Jimmy T sends.

Ed Murray said...

You in Khaki ...hmmmm I can only picture that with some anchors on the collars, but officer material ...nahhhh...you weren't asinine enough to take on that role.