Symptoms of Capitalist decline
Although I accept that the consequences of overstretch may be different in the Services, are PPruners presupposing that similar sentiments are expressed by staffers in any large organisation? Perhaps similar comparisons can be made with burnout rates in aid agencies, NGOs and IGOs.
No large company - or Government department or agency, for that matter – operating within the Globalised Capitalist system can afford to keep staff on a 'contingency' basis to cope with surge operations. Financial stringency, whether externally controlled such as the case in most Government departments, or determined by the profit line (or both!) in private companies will always result in dynamic loading of staff. It is the Capitalist means of production, ie exploitation of the workers.
Unless the Service are reorganised on a collective basis, and stop these overseas escapades that are contrary to rule-based International Law, overstretch will remain a constant reminder of the iniquitous system.
CC