Originally Posted by
Easy Street
That is a tri-service thing, not just RN, and used at 1* by the RAF quite frequently over recent years.
Sorry, probably didn't make myself clear - the second sentence was for the tri-service side; the RN used to have it much lower down the rank scale, with even lt cdr and cdr promotions not necessarily seeing you through to NRD.
The forced retirement works ok at 2-star level as, within reason, they can pick their exit timescale and the SSRB keeps them out of poverty. There is a well-established pool of 2-star holding officers picking up odd-jobs whilst they prepare the golden parachute. Lower down the food chain you will just be burdened with a regular posting until you get the boot.