After much holding and several delays, one of my ex-UAS studes got as far as the Tornado OCU before being chopped.
Got to hear he'd been restreamed ME, so persuaded our Flt Cdr Trg to get the Boss to put in a word at Binnsworth to send him our way - I convinced the Flt Cdr he was a catch we would be lucky to get...and he trusted my judgement.
Binnsworth agreed - and he came to us after finishing on the Wetdream.
Did well as a co, then did well as a captain. I did his B-cat check (a horrid black, wet night!); the minute we shut down the Stn Cdr told him he'd been promoted and handed him his Sqn Ldr braid.
Then became a Flt Cdr on the other sqn........now I hear he's going back to the premier tanker squadron as the next Boss!
Sometimes it really is good to be chopped!