I can understand what he's getting at, it's almost like the question I was asked at the AAC interview and we've probably all had "why do you want to fly?"
From my point of view it was a daft and almost unanswerable question to state elequently and reasonably, it was just that I had to do it because my mind (and soul)said "do it or just go and jump off a cliff because your life is otherwise worthless!" ...BUT...I had to tell the truth. It was because I would look so cool in a flying suit and sunglasses and pull birds, plus I wouldn't have to dig trenches on exercise eitherand get dirty! I was wrong on that count though, I dug more trenches in the AAC as aircrew than when I was in the RM
They must have believed me 'cos I got in!!
It's still tough to find out exactly what job pays what salary or rate anywhere, people don't tend to volunteer that kind of info easily the same as with job openings..very tight lipped.