Improving Air Force Pilot Career Opportunities: 'Dual Track' Revisited

Remarks on past staff efforts and research studies introduce a discussion of an updated proposal to carefully evaluate a dual track career path for Air Force pilots. Dual track is defined as alternative career choices either to follow a commandmanagement track career or a career pilot track, performing only flying-related duties. A cost analysis and outline of the concept are evaluated in a series of implications. The potential exists to improve warfighting skills and readiness and at the same time save a conservatively estimated 46 billion over a 20 year period in pilot trainingexperiencing cost avoidance alone. The lack of a viable personnel plan and officer force structure model, and institutional bias are seen as major drawbacks to a new evaluation of the dual track concept. Recommendations to evaluate this proposal--and other alternative solutions are proposed.