Retired BA/BY
Perhaps its also time for the RAF and MOD to take a closer look at what is done in the US, the Air National Guard.
I’ve often wondered the same.
I’m still in the RAF, and have had lots of experienced friends leave, and their experience is lost to the RAF for good (ok, the RAF now have their rejoiner programme-and looks like lots will rejoin now, but that won’t always be the case).
Surely there are many positives here for the RAF/RN/AAC with such a scheme whereby the experience is retained (albeit on a part time etc basis). It gives a pool of people to call on at a time of war, who are current and can be prepped for deployment quickly. It also has the added benefit of bringing experience/ideas from the airline world “you know, at (insert airline name), we do it this way..” etc.
I’m sure there would be plenty of takers too