Choose WSO, WSO, and then WSO.
And that's coming from a 36 year served AEOp / WSOp (who was always happy with his lot, I hasten to add)
1. The money is very important. When flying pay kicks in the difference is huge.
2. The promotion prospects as a WSOp are poor - the competition is enormous. The prospects as a WSO (given that its a near dead branch about to have a new influx of people) are surely much better.
3 Look ahead 8 to 10 years: one will probably still be a Sergeant, the other possibly a Squadron Leader. (then see how the money pans out - at a rough guess £40k versus £70k)
4.The chance of better and more varied postings, especially overseas, is generally going to be for WSO.
The Military is run by Officers, for Officers. If you have the chance that is the way you should enter the Service. Everything from pay, promotion prospects, responsibility, varied career development etc. points that way. Enlisted personnel do not have the same life at all.
By the way living in either Mess is awful. On base accommodation upgrades have correctly prioritised the Junior ranks, so many Messes date from the 1930's to the 1960's and are horrid.
Last edited by camelspyyder; 26th Nov 2018 at 15:12.