I'm sorry to have to add this. I am an outsider who made a conscious decision not to join the RAF sometime ago despite years in my school CCF and a Flying Scholarship. I think the men and women of the Royal Air Force are the best of the best, but the world has changed, The idea of pre-planning a 9/13/18/22 year career is ludicrous. If you are not happy, vote with your feet. Change jobs and change careers completely. Nothing is permanent. Learn to adapt and stop complaining. You will soon learn in the outside world that your current abilities are most important.