Steve, I am not surprised at all by that. The blippies seem in some way to be like the docks of old, that is, there is no way that you will get a start unless you know/ are related to someone.
Seriously, how can they tell you that you don't fit the selection criteria to be a blippie, yet you fitted the selection criteria to be trained as an ATC?
One of the 2 criteria is clearly wrong.