People here blame the holds on the final output to STC; they're not opening enough OCU slots, there's not as high a requirement for JPs and they won't release QWIs to 19(F) to help clear the backlog. Which is sensible, because they backlog have nowhere to go anyway
Right now I don't know how long you're holding for EFT after IOT, but it's probably still 6 months for BFJT and 6-9 months for Valley, then 6 months for an OCU. There's a horrible wait for METS right now because the restreamees from Linton jumped the queue; but even those chopped from Linton and Valley now have 9 month waits, and it's measured in years rather than months for guys straight from IOT.
Earlier last year, chaps streamed ME from IOT were packed off to undermanned stations for a couple of years as OC GD. Hold lengths were of the "don't call us, we'll call you" sort of length!
Still, holding's not that bad. I don't mind making tea, and your brain doesn't start to rot until you've been drinking solidly for 3 months
