Bismark,
That's not entirely true. All RAF crews are also trained in basic SAR but not to the same level as the frontline SAR crews. They also practise this on their frontline aircraft (occasionally). Lots of RAF SAR pilots are now flying Merlin, Chinook and Puma (as well as instructing at SARTU and Shawbury) and I do know of at least one LM who has also gone that way. This rotation of crews was encouraged to provide transference of skills. It also works the other way and there are numerous SH personnel on SAR.
The winchman training is so specialised that to do one tour and return to SH (if that is where they have come from) would not be cost effective or ideal for manning; it takes about 18 months for them to gain their full paramedic qual. A large proportion of the Radar/Winch operators come from the Nimrod and not from rotary. It is, however, true that a lot of the RAF personnel spend several tours on SAR whereas the RN crews typically only do one.
I wouldn't believe everything you read in the paper. It is well know that the aircraft are tired. It is well known that there are contract proceedings ongoing for future SAR provision. How this is going to happen is not known but the current suggestions are that, wherever the airframe comes from, there will still be a large number of military crews. I wouldn't be hugely surprised if this changes but it is still exceptionally early days yet.
p.s. One of the bidders will be Westland and they make the Merlin. Don't rule that out yet.
p.p.s. Don't necessarily tie civvy and Bristow's together. As of next year the Coastguard will be provided by CHC. Basing decisions are up to the contract bidder to decide.