Jobza...
Believe it or not, I think we sing exactly the same tune. My comments were erring on the "devil's advocate" side, but I stand by them all the same.
You correctly remark that a FJ SEngO should protect his JEngOs to a reasonable extent. Equally, the SEngOs and OC Eng Wg at Lyneham should have their sights set firmly on providing aircraft to meet the flying programme (is this currently the case?). They should give the JEngO the motivation and guidance to do the job, and instill the sense of duty, urgency and importance that perhaps is lost at centralised units.
Unfortunately at Lyneham it appears the command chain from JEngO downwards is subject to the "long screwdriver" from OC Eng Wg, which may be compared to the hypothetical FJ JEngO not being protected from unreasonable pressure from the Sqn Boss. The role of the SEngO is pivotal in either case.
Even with the best intentions, a JEngO straight from the University-IOT-EOT sausage factory is not always going to be able to handle himself in the way that may be expected by those with more experience. Does OC Eng Wg at Lyneham take her JEngOs seriously? Where does she get her feel for what is happening on the "shop floor"? Are the Junior Officers in Lyneham Eng Wg employed as JEngOs, or are they seen as staffwork dogsbodies, or YTS trainees? These are the OC Engs of the future being developed!
My comments regarding the "long screwdriver" notwithstanding, the Stn Cdr is ultimately responsible for what his Wg Cdrs are up to (another benefit of centralised engineering?) , and will step in if the situation becomes too serious.
Lyneham has a long standing commitment to providing AT in the Gulf, a long way from senior Eng Wg management. Would anyone care to venture an opinion how the Eng detachment is managed in comparison to Lyneham Eng Wg as a whole?
We are running out of time before everyone simply stops caring.