Having only seen his comment on BBC news I think the mistake was the "I'm" bit. If he had posed the question more in a "I am a Lt Cdr in the RN and have many junior officers and ratings who are asking me about their futures, what would you suggest I tell them Prime Minister?",I would have had a great deal more sympathy with him. I felt his question came across as rather immature and seemed to show self interest in Ward, Harrier pilot rather than Lt Cdr Ward, RN officer.