USMCmech
Well-Known Member
The Officer/Enlisted class structure made sense a hundred years ago, but is changing rapidly.
In 1940 "some college" was all it took to apply for a commision. In that day and age most of the population lived in farming communities where staying in school past 8th grade was the exception. Urban dwelers were slightly better educated with a "high" school diploma really meaning something. A bachelors degree in any major meant that the prospective officer was much better educated than the enlisted men he was leading.
Even then, the US Army Air Corps was the exception in limiting pilots to commissioned officers. The USN/USMC, Luftwafe, RAF, and IJN all had enlisted pilots throughout WWII. In all but the US Navy/USMC, the majority of pilots were enlisted/warrants, with a few "flying officers" in leadership roles.
Today, the education gap between officers and enlisted is much less. Virtually 100% of enlisted recruits are high school graduates, many having some college, which makes the military better educated than society at large. The fact that college degrees are so common, and much less rigorious than in the past means that the officer corps is often only slightly better educated (while being less experianced) than the enlisted men. In some fields this situation can even be inverted. A sailor trained in operating nuclear power has graduated a school that would send any non STEM college grad back to 8th grade.
I personally think that the Army has the right idea with warrant officer pilots. There are no reason that the USAF, USN, and USMC can't promote E-5 to W-1s and train them to fly drones, helos, or transport aircraft.
In 1940 "some college" was all it took to apply for a commision. In that day and age most of the population lived in farming communities where staying in school past 8th grade was the exception. Urban dwelers were slightly better educated with a "high" school diploma really meaning something. A bachelors degree in any major meant that the prospective officer was much better educated than the enlisted men he was leading.
Even then, the US Army Air Corps was the exception in limiting pilots to commissioned officers. The USN/USMC, Luftwafe, RAF, and IJN all had enlisted pilots throughout WWII. In all but the US Navy/USMC, the majority of pilots were enlisted/warrants, with a few "flying officers" in leadership roles.
Today, the education gap between officers and enlisted is much less. Virtually 100% of enlisted recruits are high school graduates, many having some college, which makes the military better educated than society at large. The fact that college degrees are so common, and much less rigorious than in the past means that the officer corps is often only slightly better educated (while being less experianced) than the enlisted men. In some fields this situation can even be inverted. A sailor trained in operating nuclear power has graduated a school that would send any non STEM college grad back to 8th grade.
I personally think that the Army has the right idea with warrant officer pilots. There are no reason that the USAF, USN, and USMC can't promote E-5 to W-1s and train them to fly drones, helos, or transport aircraft.
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