Lear 70,
The reasons is "timing".
There was a period where AJX/AJV stopped hiring Direct Captains about 2 years ago. So some guys who well and truly qualified to be DEC's under todays hiring criteria and the initial criteria were only offered FO positons. Unfortunately for them, and it must really hurt, 6 months or so after they signed as FO's the companies started hiring Capts again because they can't get enough FO's wanting to come here under the current conditions.
The question was aked if they could now become Captains as they meet all the criteria. The stern reply is always "NO". Far too many Capts in this outfit and not enough FO's. Timing!!