The U.S. Air Force has employed a phased approach to implement changes that would allow more active-duty enlisted airmen to apply for the service branch’s training program on a Northrop Grumman-developed remotely piloted aircraft.Sgt. Kimberly Pollard, RPA enlisted specialty manager, noted the RQ-4 Global Hawk RPA program has expanded the eligibility pool from only career-enlisted aviators to include all Air Force specialty codes and set a revised timeline for examinations, the Air Force said Monday.
Pollard added airmen will have an extended preparation time to complete flight physicals and prepare for the computer-based Air Force Enlisted Pilot Qualifying Test and the Test of Basic Aviation Skills scheduled from Sept. 1 to Oct. 14.
The Air Force Personnel Center will announce a pool of up to 300 candidates based on test scores who can move to the second phase of the application for the RPA program.
Selected phase two candidates will be required to submit all application documentation as well as undergo an Air Force initial flying class II physical examination.
The service branch noted applicants will have until Jan. 27 to provide a certified flight physical to the AFPC.
The results of the inaugural enlisted RPA pilot selection board will be released in late February 2017.
