{"id":30242,"date":"2019-10-11T14:36:56","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T14:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/10\/11\/data-showing-160th-soars-pilot-shortage-is-a-snapshot-in-time-command-cautions\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:48:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:48:22","slug":"data-showing-160th-soars-pilot-shortage-is-a-snapshot-in-time-command-cautions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2019\/10\/11\/data-showing-160th-soars-pilot-shortage-is-a-snapshot-in-time-command-cautions\/","title":{"rendered":"Data showing 160th SOAR\u2019s pilot shortage is a \u2018snapshot in time,\u2019 command cautions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Army Special Operations Command<\/a> faced pilot shortages in the final quarter of fiscal 2019, according to manning numbers obtained by Army Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shortages were noticeable in the A\/MH-6, MH-60 and MH-47 pilot communities, but are emblematic of the larger shortages throughout the Army\u2019s combat aviation brigades, from which special operations aviators are sourced later in their careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MH-60 is the special operations variant<\/a> of the UH-60 Black Hawk<\/a>. Its warrant officer 3 and 4 ranks were manned at 43 percent and 83 percent, respectively, according to the mid-July numbers from a source familiar with personnel issues who requested to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MH-47 is the special operations variant of the CH-47 Chinook<\/a>. Its warrant officer 3 and 4 ranks were manned at 59 percent and 65 percent, respectively, according to the July numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These pilots are assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment \u2014 an elite cohort of Army helicopter pilots and crewmembers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe numbers which were provided to you are a snapshot in time and are currently inaccurate and are not a true depiction of current strength,” Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, Army Special Operations Command spokesman, told Army Times on Oct. 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citing the specialized nature of the 160th SOAR\u2019s missions, Bymer said the current end strength could not be released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Numbers for the Army\u2019s A\/MH-6 Little Birds appeared slightly better in the July numbers, hitting more than 73 percent manning levels for warrant officer 3s and 62 percent for warrant officer 4s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is in the highest manning category,” Bymer explained in a statement. \u201cIn general, our Aviation Warrant Officer population is a mature group. It will take time for the Army\u2019s increase in aviation forces to mature into our recruiting population. We work closely with Army Aviation enterprise to address projected shortages, identify eligible recruiting populations, and retain talent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A U.S. Air Force airman from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron jumps out of the back of a MH-47 Chinook helicopter at Wynnehaven Beach, Fla., April 9, 2013. The 23rd STS partnered with 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) to conduct personnel recovery training using alternate infiltration and exfiltration techniques. (U.S. Air Force photo\/Airman 1st Class Christopher Callaway)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Army has acknowledged that it\u2019s facing a pilot shortage<\/a>, though the conversation has focused around conventional forces. Special operations aviation is by nature more selective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday, every active component [combat aviation brigade<\/a>] is allocated or on mission,\u201d Brig. Gen. Michael C. McCurry, director of Army Aviation, said at a Washington, D.C., event in September. \u201cThey\u2019re either on-mission, coming back from the mission or training for the mission.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 160th SOAR\u2019s aviators have remained in high demand since the start of the Global War on Terror, as well. Like other U.S. special operations forces, though, they normally deploy in shorter increments than their conventional counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur units maintain compliance with DOD-wide policy for dwell time ratio and continue to operate at a sustainable level,\u201d Bymer said. \u201cEssential to this compliance is monitoring crews at the company level and closely managing deployment rotations and training exercises to achieve the appropriate balance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former head of Army Aviation<\/a> told lawmakers<\/a> two years ago that the service was addressing a gap in its warrant officer corps by increasing seats at training schools and pushing to retain seasoned aviators. But in the two years since then, the service only added about 30 pilots, and still had nearly 700 positions left to fill, according to data from August<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t