All the FOs in EK now knew about DECs when they joined
Did we really Don? I joined about three years ago and first, the DEC option was not on the table. Quite contrary, they even had a rumor buster saying they were not going to go down that path any time soon.
Secondly, the requirements for DEC as per the OM-A were what, 10000h total and 3000h PIC wide body?!
In all fairness, most of us then, at least me personally would not have cut it as a DEC but you must understand that dropping the requirements to were they are now, allowing the very same people that used to be our first officers back in Europe to join as DECs will, in lack of better words, disappoint a number of us.
So please, we will bide our time but in the meanwhile, don't piz us off!