Bobby I think it is a manpower driven CNO experiment. It's a noble idea but Navy culture is very very hard to change. Career paths for commissioned aviators have been set in stone for a while and NMPC and detailers have a good sense on how to put the right people where. Warrant pilots will shake this up a bit.
The test will be if it goes beyond an intial 30 person pilot program - and then if CO's (O-5) level and Air Wing commanders really get behind the idea. Who will advocate for these guys/gals at the squadron level?
Could be a good thing. The Navy can handle it - we had enlisted pilots flying helos during Korea, "flying midshipmen" (Middies that hadn't commissioned yet had finished flight school), Flying LDO's, NAVCADS, etc. We can do this if the guys at the top really set the tone.
It will be interesting.