With all the angst and breast beating please remember that this exercise in futility was probably started by some gp capt of the 'master race' that was really, really quite anxious to get his 1 star and leapt on the opportunity provided by a passing comment from some bean counter from the Treasury at some meeting or other.
The gp capt then gave the staff work to an aircrew sqn ldr to work out the details - and he was really anxious to get the 'scores in the doors' to make wg cdr.
At some point - if you are keen enough, or unfortunate enough, to cop a posting to a HQ or MOD then
you might well be one of these nameless wonders that cops a beating on this forum. And of course you'll keep your head down and let the flak head the way of the politicians or the blunties - won't you??
