MOD SROs are in an invidious position, as the people they're accountable to aren't generally those responsible for their career progression. Trading away capability or schedule to meet cost goals or legislative requirements might meet with the approval of the IAC, MOD ministers, wider government and Parliament, but it isn't going to win the SRO any favour with the senior officers who write their appraisals and decide upon their assignments. And from 1* upwards, which is where most SROs sit, falling out of favour within one's own service leads to compulsory early retirement. Constructive dismissal, anyone? Hardly likely: it's a longstanding "feature" of the system to make room for promising new blood. I can think of several 1*s whose careers have stalled or ended following their (completely understandable) inability to reconcile impossibly-conflicting objectives placed upon them. It just doesn't make the news.
Last edited by Easy Street; 27th Nov 2021 at 12:02.