Cabe
"Your comment about post age 55 is, I am assured by manning, an urban myth. I have recently deserted the sinking ship post 55 point having extended to 58. I was informed by manning that it was the same 6 months service as 50 - 55."
Service past 55 is usually a pretty personal thing, with conditions specific to the individual......................however, it used to be that PMA (as was)had give you 6 months notice but you only had to give them 3!
How'd I know, well many years ago as a JO in SM**, I watched my Gp Capt threaten the on-continuance WO that he'd have PMA give him 6 months notice if he didn't stop being obstructive (ok, realistic). The Gp Capt soon shut when the WO replied that he only had to give 3 months and pulled out the paperwork to prove it! This would have a left a critical post gapped at a very inopportune time (for the Gp Capts career aspirations if nothing else), the very reason why the WO had been signed on past 55. The moral - Don't mess with WOs, especially crusty old ones on continuance.
As for the original poster, I too am sceptical about a 24yr old being 'head-hunted' without having been actively looking first.