That was direct entry command. Nobody is fooled by transparent BS like that. They were hired to be captains. The process was set at the time of hiring. Many companies mpanies do it this way. Just so they can claim no DEC. They were all told they won't spend a day as an FO. They were hired with the extra training and qualification already scheduled as the last part of their newhire training. You can call it a duck but if it's a chicken, then it's a chicken.