John Weiss wrote:
Greasy Rider @ invalid.com wrote...

(The last of the enlisted pilots were gone by the late 50's to the
best of my knowledge.)

1. THE NAVY IS SEEKING APPLICATIONS FROM HIGHLY-QUALIFIED AND
HARD-CHARGING SAILORS (E-5 THROUGH E-7) FOR A PILOT PROGRAM TO PLACE
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICERS (CWO) IN COCKPITS AS PILOTS AND NAVAL FLIGHT
OFFICERS.


Sounds like a rehash of the Aviator LDO program (early 80s?). Not too many
takers/successes, and the program died quickly.



This one will die the same death for the same reason. It's not a good
commissioning opportunity for Charlie Whitehat. It's a cheap way not to
use plowbacks in the training command and destroy URL career paths, not
to hire Civil Service or contract training instructors and utility
pilots, and to put Warrant Officers into sea duty billets that have a
high failure rate for aviation URL JO's (V-1, -2 and -3 Division, etc.).

I got called on various command carpets many times in the late 70's and
early 80's for declaring that the then-enlisted-to-aviator program was a
career trap for good enlisted personnel. No senior ever faced me down
on the subject after hearing the facts.

Rick Yount
Former CWO-2
LCDR (Retired)Aviation Maintenance LDO