Dr Redford, as well as displaying a naivety of analysis that I last saw in a 6th form debating society, misses the concept of what Airpower and therefore the RAF is there to do.
As racedo metioned, the RN take an eon to get anywhere, and the Army generally have to go en masse to take and hold, which by implication involves a fair chunk of time away 'holding'. Conversely, the RAF don't actually have to go anywhere to carry out operations. Yes, whilst deployed in AFG, our role is largely to support the Army, but defence of UK airspace is a strategic operational role in its own right. And given that it is a non-discretionary role, carried out 24/7, you could argue that there the entire RAF is on or supporting operations, with no bobbing around on a 14 day transit to get to the AO before you even start doing things.
He really should start by working out what it is the various Services actually do before trying to get into the nuances of their operatioanl manning plots.