OHP,
Tks for pointing out the difference between WSOp/WSO - I should have known better than to drink and type. Perhaps you are correct to point out that the officers in ground branches are there because they didn't make the grade to be aircrew in the first place (there are other reasons - medical etc). That said, and out of curiosity, is it feasible to employ a junior officer, who is currently in a ground branch, in a WSOps role if he/she had attained the required IQ test for WSOp? If my understanding is correct, to be an AEOp you required a score of 75 (commissioned pilot/nav/FC and ATC required higher scores).
DS