Excellent idea, but not a new one. Many years ago, only slightly before my time, Eng Os with the aptitude got flying courses and one tour! By my time in training, they got their wings before becoming engineers (which explains some senior engineers with wings). I suppose these days if they had the aptitude, they wouldn't be allowed NOT to be full-time pilots.
But the UAS idea is good, probably for other branches too; I think I heard that civvy ATCOs get a chance of a PPL as part of their training - same good logic. Why don't we?