Front Seater
Some excellent points there, most of which I agree with, but I have to correct you on one point:
My point is, if you cannot retain people - as the RN and the RAF seem to do more efficiently
Absolutely wrong! Whatever most of us may think from wandering around our Sqn's, the AAC has it's full compliment of pilots. That's because most of us
don't leave early; even when were 5hat on with flying pay etc (see other threads). Both the RN and RAF have FRI, we don't for that very reason.
Contrary to what has been said, I haven't seen many of the pilots from the first Op Sqn leave. Sure, loads of the first bunch of QHI's have, but that was inevitable considering most of them were already pensionable when they did the courses in the States 5-7 years ago.