Tongue in cheek re the plastic Sgt comment. I know quite a few NCA are blokes who have spent a number of years in ground trades. A throw back from my father who was a plumber Warrant. He saw them as 'back door mess members.
Some of the best people I ignore are crab SNCO aircrew.
You can't join straight in as NCO pilot.
Minimum rank for starting the course is Cpl with recommendations for Sgt.
Chaps who start the course tend to have at least 5 years experience under their belt. Thats usually the minimum. Par is about 9 years.
I don't think anyone was implying that AAC rearcrew would just jump onto the SH force without undergoing some sort of conversion.