I too guess that there was some history here between them.
Whilst I hate to generalise I am going to none the less.
When I was a young Captain I found that the ex-RAF fast jet guys would have a superiority attitude, thinking that they really should be the ones in the left hand seat. Also thinking that they knew exactly how the Company should be run and how they should manage their staff as if the RAF way is the only way.
Now I am an older more experience Captain it is not quite prevalent but still there.
We are just about to promote some very young guys, but very very competent, to the LHS and I do worry about the command gradient being eroded.
I think that guys coming out of the RAF should have some sort of exit counselling, explaining that there is some competency outside of the RAF. It must be very difficult for them, to go from school into the RAF and not been in the civilian world to fully comprehend how things are on the other side!
BTW ex Herc, C17 and Tristar guys, great guys on the whole.