The most important thing to me in my 36yrs (came out 5yrs ago this week) was that you knew if anything went pear shaped the 'company' would look after you and your family. Towards the end of my career that one thing was eroding at a vast rate of knots and I worry there is very little left. I am still in contact with colleagues who are still in who now seem to be treated nothing other than an employee. The reciprocal to this is that folks start to treat the RAF as just another job. It's a downwards spiral...... and no, I would not wish to start 'again'.