I was approached in 1995 to become one of the first five HRR (High Readiness Reserve) rotary pilots.
The RAF would pay me a daily rate, I think it was less than £30, for the days I worked. They expected my present employer, in a foreign country, to allow me the time off, a minimum of 28 days and up to 36 days per year, and to hold open my job if I went to war. The only way I could achieve this was to use up all my annual leave every year.
It would cost me £1200 round trip to travel to the base in UK. The RAF would only pay my motor mileage from the arrival airport to Odiham.
Not surprisingly, I turned down the kind and thoughtful offer.
It looks like they haven't moved on very far since then.