I was commissioned rear crew for 26 of my 35 years. Why did I apply for a commission...because I wanted to set my sights higher than running a section, better pay and pension, better messing (still had Batting Staff) and maybe a say in the running of part of my life; in a word "Aspiration".
The guys who are being "empowered" today are those that would have probably been commisioned anyway, unfortunately they will never taste the rewards that were on offer, even with spine TOS, (although I hear the pension might be a little better).
In my latter years I saw a host of very able guys getting commisioned, especially from the rotary fleet. Some were well educated with creditable degrees, others because they had proved themselves involved. Unfortunately this time of enlightenment came after a long period when a number of makeweights got commissioned on the back of the CASWO scheme or various management initiatives born from the "feedback tours", or by having held an "A" Cat for so long that some misguided Pilot/Nav Flt Cdr decided they would make a good officer despite the fact they probabaly hadn't done anything in the office for 20 years. (Gasp! Takes a breath and calms down)
We also had a good number of bright young things that are now denied opportunity and have to re-badge or wait for someone to die before they get a chance to be the boss.
Military service is an elitist heirarchy, undemocratic and ridden with bigotry and long may it survive without being undermined by the "tree-huggers" who want to make it fair and fluffy. What's wrong with having all pilots commisioned? There's got to be something to attract the b**gers towards the light. At the same time I believe the same opportunity has got to be offered across the board,
I never heard anyone pull rank in the air in all my years but I do remember as a SNCO not being invited to the table when important stuff was being dished out.
There is a danger that you end up with the second string as your "empowered" SNCO's because all the good guys saw the light and bailed out after the honeymoon period was over. I just don't see an intelligent operator staying as a Master for upwards of 15 years going around the same old buoys while pilot/WSO decide the policy of his/her specialisation at grown up level.
Best of luck to all those still serving from a Grumpy Old Sod!
