Originally Posted by
Two's in
It does make sense to widen the selection pool to the spotty youth community, but the rank criteria (whatever NCO level it was) was previously predicated on pilot applicants having acquired a reasonable knowledge of how the Army works. AAC was always required to operate in All-Arms environment, so a knowledge of wider operations than those acquired from your original branch made sense. Does this mean DAAvn think that knowledge base is less critical, or that the (junior and less experienced) pilots will always be supervised by a grown up?
Having flown with newly qualified pilots from Corporal to Major, amazingly enough, rank was never an indicator of ability!
As you've said, the rank requirement was to make use of the experience gained as soldiers progressed towards Cpl. Why they had this rule for soldiers but a 2Lt with no experience outside of Sandhurst was a suitable candidate (when in times past they would do a detachment with a field Army unit before the pilot course) was never clarified. I think now common sense has prevailed and experience outside of aviation doesn't necessarily make a better Army Pilot.
Again, as you've also said, the junior pilot regardless of rank will always be supervised by a "grown up", who could also be any rank.