Evaluating Pilot Progression in Army Special Operations Aviation after the Withdrawals from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

Abstract

During the first decade of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), Army Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) recruited from a large population of combat-experienced Army aviators. However, following the troop drawdowns in Iraq and Afghanistan, ARSOA experienced a decrease in the average total rotary wing flights hours of incoming recruits. The decrease in aviation experience caused ARSOA leadership to question if recruiting policies and training programs needed to change to adapt to the changing experience levels of ARSOA recruits.