Door Slider is quite correct...the possibility to commission within ones own branch, ie Air Eng, ALM, AEO, was with drawn as of 1st April 2003. No warning was given, ie "Last orders at Cranwell please", leaving many NCA frustrated and bewildered as to where their career was to lead now. However, with the on-set of the PA spine, those that have been lucky enough to be offered to join will surely agree that we are now better off than those unfortunate NCA that were commissioned within the branch pre- 1/4/03. Many of then had a career offer to age 55 previous to their 6 month trip to Cranwell but have now had the rug pulled from under them to be replaced, as has already been stated, by MACR.