The reason this all Bullsh!t?
If they do the VR and still have a genuine surplus then they should be doing another round of VR and if that’s not affordable then start cutting from the bottom up, regardless of LWOP, just as the EA’s + IA intend. That bypass furphy is only there to get people off the books. Gun to the head- if you like. Just look at what American Airlines announced today. Bodies are going to get dropped everywhere.