MarcK,
JB certainly doesn't need any defense and surely not from the likes of ME…but, in the interest of accuracy, they don't require a Ponzi scheme to attract pilots. JB is an established industry player and people are rightly storming the front gate to get a job there. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but it sure is for enough people.
Why they feel the need to formally establish & define 7 different paths to a pilot job is a management decision I don't quite understand.
Gateway 1 - Normal pilot recruiting process
Gateway 2 - Current employees depart the company to go to another airline for XX amount of hours, and come back after gaining experience
Gateway 3 - Current employees transfer from an internal position to a full-time pilot position (leaving the original position)
Gateway 4 - Current employees gain a seniority number, and retain their original position (Sim instructors typically, but also others from time to time)
Gateway 5 - Airline gateway program (Airlines who partner with JetBlue, such as Cape Air)
Gateway 6 - University gateway program
Gateway 7 - The program at question here
As for how many need to be trained to be "selected", it appears that those are the same numbers. Those recruits who wind up in a JB cockpit seat via this program would be selected at the moment they were, well, "selected". IIUC, all they need to do is complete the program to the standards as prescribed and defined and they're good to go. Same as any other training program with a defined end goal. Will there be dropouts ? Perhaps, but aren't there always ?