I think fareastdriver’s idea is probably the right one in the situation we now find ourselves. But...
This is only because we are so far down the road of civilianisation and ‘FTRSisation’ of so much of the second- and third-line, both air and ground trades, starting with depth maintenance and now encompassing QFIs in the flying training system and Voyager crews at Brize. Even tactics development jobs at the AWC and requirements jobs at Abbey Wood are being contracted out be done by the host of QWIs working for Inzpire. No doubt it’s great for the bottom line in the short and medium term, but the long term effect is that the remaining regulars get utterly thrashed in a succession of front-line tours and leave after getting cheesed off with all the time away. This is what has been hurting the USAF and it is almost certainly a significant factor in the problem highlighted by the NAO. Eventually this model will come crashing down around us, as future leavers will not have had any of the wider experience that makes the previous generation capable of filling these contractorised roles without additional training.
Trouble is, one of the NAO’s recommendations is to do more of this civilianisation thing...