DBTW,
Like it or not these generations and their differing values comprise the bulk of the bograt workforce of today and the leadership positions of tomorrow. Consequently these generations need to be understood. The truth of the matter is that the training system is set up to produce fighter pilots. Every trainee pilot that finishes 2FTS at a standard good enough to matriculate to 79sqn (and potentially go on to Hornets) and KNOCKS IT BACK to fly a Herc/P-3/C17 is a massive waste of time and money. This is happening time and time again and the blame for this rests solely with ACG . I know some people that were scrubbed from 76 and when offered a chance to return because they were short on numbers they politely declined - citing the amount of spare time on their hands to surf, drink etc as a contributing factor. They admitted that the 737/C-130 wasn't as much fun but the LIFESTYLE was too good to pass up.
This is all about marketing. ACG need to sell it better to the upcoming generations. And that doesn't mean handing out aviators and bomber jackets at university open days.
Here's a real world example for you to ponder. Aware of the current situation the 2FTS brass decided that the reason Bloggs doesn't want to fly fighters is because his instructor was a Herc/P-3/BBJ guy that told him how good life is flying multi's and if his instructor was a jet guy then all would be good. WRONG. The fact that jets is too hard is all too public. And Bloggs only needs to talk to the junior guys at the jet SQN's to get the low down which he has already done. His mind is already made up. No amount of moto briefs/pax rides/trips to muchea to watch BDU's being dropped will change this.
The solution means modifying the workrate/tempo at the squadrons to facilitate a semi-normal existence where one can manage a career and a family and their own external interests as well as providing the opportunity to utilise these finely tuned skill-sets in an operational environment. If they fail to do this there will be a significant number of JSF's sitting on the flightline as spare frames from 2018. Good if one crumps though.