Gents, on this thread I will allow ( mods permitting) a little thread drift.
It is blindingly obvious to all outside the the ivory towers that there is a momumental shortfall in much needed capacity. We need a great big load of support. FACT. Anyone who says otherwise is deluding themselves.
I am getting mightily annoyed with the infighting that seems to go on while there is a war on. The politicians need to work out what they want us (the troops) to do and also what spare capacity they want to have. This does include SAR, Arrows, Tiffin, Dave, and anything else. They then say to the big men with egg on hats " righto bloggs, what do you need to meet these aims."
You then tell them the truth - this goes right down to an SAC who when asked tells the MP on his fact finding visit the truth (things like no doors on toilets, no sleep, the support services working short days) and you also tell them what you need.
The bottom line is that to do a task you need certain things, an airframe (serviceable and airworthy), a crew (not dog tired), fuel ammo etc.
You should not continually be having to cut corners to do it with nothing, but you are so used to doing it that if anyone says otherwise they are told to man up etc.
wake up, THE EMPORER HAS NO CLOTHES!
rant off, diverting to topic.