BP
You are completely correct. You have to look at it in context. I was just giving my personal experiences that's all. Again, I have tried to relate experiences that would lean for and against both methods of joining.
FF
Take every bit of advice you can get. Ultimately it will be up to you to sift the advice that you receive. As I said, I'm not the best source of the latest info but I'm sure with each reply to your querey you'll be able to add a piece to your own jigsaw puzzle.
Afterall, the final decision is yours and as long as you can justify your reasoning sensibly to the RAF then that's all that counts.
Anyway, at the mo it looks like i'm spending the rest of the rest in DOVER, Delaware so ******. SVK