Who can fly the Marine Corps’ Reaper drones?
By Irene Loewenson
Friday, Jun 23
It’s a question Gen. David Berger, the Marine commandant, posed in a training and education planning document released in January.
Under the heading “Issues Requiring Further Analysis,” Berger wrote, “MQ-9 Operators. Should the Marine Corps consider other options besides commissioned officers to become qualified as naval aviators?”
For now, the Marine Corps appears to lean toward “No.”
“Marine Corps aviation has a strong lineage dating back over 100 years that celebrates commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted ranks alike,” Maj. Jay Hernandez, a spokesman for Marine aviation, wrote in a statement to Marine Corps Times. “Due to U.S. Code and the commitments required of the naval aviation pipeline, commissioned officers are the optimal choice in fulfilling naval aviator criteria.”
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/06/23/who-can-fly-the-marine-corps-reaper-drones/
