Other non-operational positions are more general in nature and are  divided among officer communities to help carry out support activities,  training functions, and other noncombat related activities in a military  service. Since 2013 RPA Pilots Have Been Promoted and Nominated for Education Opportunities at Rates Generally Similar to Pilots in Other Fields

		RPA Pilots Have Been Promoted at Rates Generally Similar to Those of Pilots in Other Career Fields

Based on our analysis of Air Force promotion data, the percentage of  RPA pilots promoted were generally similar in comparison to the  promotion rates of pilots in other career fields since 2013. However,  in 7 of the 8 promotion boards held from 2006 through 2012, RPA pilot  promotion rates from major to lieutenant colonel fell below the promotion  rates for all other pilots. According to Air  Force officials, the creation and establishment of this career field resulted  in an increase in the number of skilled and more competitive promotion  candidates. Air Force Assigned Non-operational Staff Positions Requiring RPA Pilots at High Rates Since 2013

For each year since 2013, the Air Force has assigned over 75 percent of  the non-operational staff positions that require an RPA pilot to the  organizations that had requested those positions, according to our  analysis of service headquarters data. However, the overall number of  non-operational staff positions that require an RPA pilot is about one- tenth of the number of those requiring pilots in other career fields. For  example, in fiscal year 2018 the Air Force had 83 non-operational staff  positions that required an RPA pilot compared to 330 positions requiring  fighter pilots. Air Force officials stated that the number of RPA positions  was smaller than for other pilots because the career field is relatively new  and still growing. Certain non-operational staff positions can be filled only by qualified  pilots. The Air Force Has Not Reviewed Its Oversight Process to Manage Its Non- operational Staff Positions That Require Aviator Expertise

The Air Force has not reviewed its oversight process to ensure that it is  effectively and efficiently managing its review of non-operational staff  positions that require aviator expertise, such as RPA pilots. Air Force  officials explained that its oversight process for managing these positions  requiring pilot expertise consists of a time-consuming, labor-intensive  process of exchanging emails and spreadsheets with 57 organizations,  such as various Air Force Major commands like the Air Combat  Command, the Air Force Special Operations Command, and the National  Guard Bureau. For example,  these officials explained that over the last 10 years, the Air Force drew  down the number of squadrons, but did not do a good job of cross  checking that reduced number of squadrons with a revised number of  staff positions required for support. These officials added that as the new RPA pilot  career field has developed, there has been no timely and widely  accessible system of checks and balances to establish an accurate  number of non-operational staff positions required to support the career  field. For example, in August 2018, out of 2,783 non- operational staff positions, the Air Force found that 513 of these positions  were evaluated as lacking adequate justification or mission qualifications  to support the need for aviator expertise and 61 positions were eliminated  after further review. By reviewing its oversight process, the Air Force may be able to identify a  more efficient manner to manage its non-operational staff positions that  require aviator expertise. DOD concurred with the recommendation to review the management  oversight process that provides information and documents the  justifications of the Air Force’s non-operational staff positions requiring  aviator expertise, including RPA positions, to identify opportunities for  increased efficiency and effectiveness and to take any necessary actions.
Why GAO Did This Study

An increasing number of Air Force missions use unmanned aerial systems, or RPAs, to provide their specialized capabilities in support of combat operations. The demand for crew members for these systems has grown rapidly. For example, RPA pilot requirements increased by 76 percent since fiscal year 2013 while those for fighter pilots stayed about the same. These requirements include pilots who serve in non-operational staff positions, such as trainers.
Senate Report 115-125 included a provision that GAO review career advancement for Air Force RPA pilots compared to other pilots. This report, among other things, describes (1) the rates that RPA and other pilots were promoted; (2) the rates that non-operational staff positions requiring RPA pilot expertise were assigned to various organizations, and (3) the extent to which the Air Force has reviewed its oversight process to effectively manage non-operational staff positions requiring aviator expertise.
Among other things, GAO analyzed Air Force pilot promotion data from 2006-2017. GAO also analyzed non-operational staff position data from fiscal years 2013-2018 and interviewed officials regarding the management and oversight of these positions.

What GAO Found

The promotion rates for Air Force Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) pilots have been generally similar to those of other pilots since 2013 and have increased over time. See figure below for promotion rates from major to lieutenant colonel. Air Force officials stated that RPA pilot promotion rates increased because the creation of a dedicated career field resulted in more competitive candidates.
Since 2013, over 75 percent of non-operational staff positions requiring RPA pilot expertise were assigned to various organizations within the Air Force, according to GAO's analysis. These positions carry out support and other noncombat-related activities as well as training functions and are essential to the development of officers. However, the overall number of these positions that require a RPA pilot is about one-tenth of the combined number of those requiring other pilots. For example, in fiscal year 2018, 83 non-operational staff positions required RPA pilots compared to 330 requiring fighter pilots. Air Force officials stated that the small number of RPA positions is because the career field is new.
The Air Force has not reviewed its oversight process to ensure that it is efficiently managing its non-operational staff positions that require aviator expertise. Air Force officials explained that over the last 10 years, the Air Force reduced the number of squadrons but had not reviewed the number of non-operational staff positions. Similarly, the Air Force has had no widely accessible oversight process to monitor whether it had established an accurate number of non-operational staff positions required to support the new RPA career field. In August 2018, the Air Force identified 513 non-operational staff positions (out of 2,783) as needing further review because they lacked adequate justification of the need for aviator expertise. Officials described the process for managing these positions as time and labor intensive, which can cause delays in obtaining reliable information needed to inform decision-making. By reviewing this process, the Air Force may be able to identify opportunities to create efficiencies and more effectively manage its non-operational staff positions requiring aviator expertise.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that the Air Force review its oversight process for managing the non-operational staff positions, including those for RPA pilots, to identify opportunities to increase efficiencies. DOD concurred with this recommendation.