Thanks all, may seem a bone question but I'm firmly in the Joint space these days so rarely get to hear much detail about what is going on in the RAF.
Noting LJ's comment, thinking back to my time on IOT (not something I try to remember on a regular basis!) I remember the DS holding our branch choices over us at every slight indiscretion. 'Melchett - you're useless - how do you think you're going to cope in your jet if you can't even get this right?' as we were doing the slow march - which I've never done since - for the 47th time that week. I can't imagine such 'encouragement' finding a receptive audience amongst those SNCO pilots who do decide to transfer to a commission!