In criticising maintenance (not unjustly, I might add) I feel you are missing an important point - the shortage of skilled labour to perform the work. I refer not just to the military, but across the board. As an industry we simply aren't attracting enough recruits - civil or military - and the numbers joining are less than the numbers leaving. The aviation industry in general is suffering because downwards pressure on costs from our accountant masters has reduced salaries, benefits and working conditions. Why, for example would anyone wish to be an avionics technician when they could work less hours in better conditions and for more pay in IT?
For that matter why would anyone wish to be in engineering management? I only stay because I'm too old and set in my ways to change now, but the next time I face the Capital Sanction Committee only to hear the words "No Budget" I'm going to strangle someone.