We need pilots flying airplanes instead of doing meaningless extra duties. We need to realize that aviation is expensive and if the Army wants it, it comes at a price. We need to completely revamp the way we look at officer management. Really, this needs to be donw across the army, but I'll stick to aviation. Aviation promotions need to be yanked out of the Army Competitive Category and into it's own category.
Aviators compete only against Aviators.
We need serious adjustments to the professional development timeline. Lieutenants need to get out of OBC and be a line pilot. Not a platoon leader or a staff officer, just a line dog. The Lieutenants need to fly and fly and fly some more until they make pilot in command. After a promotion to Captain and at least 500 hours, maybe the best can be assistant platoon leaders.