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Old 9th Jun 2013, 13:25
  #26 (permalink)  
safetypee
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
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IMHO such qualifications should be evaluated from multiple viewpoints.
A negative view might be too much specialisation, limiting some aspects of career advancement. However, if you are good enough to progress onwards and upwards, then the qualification should do no harm. Alternatively without advancement, choose a specialisation which has interest (hobby) for continued service or intrinsic value outside.

More positive views, suggest that qualifications do no harm, they indicate intent and ability. Most qualifications irrespective of specialisation enhance communicating skills and particularly those of thinking – technical application, etc.
Balance the interest / commitment aspects with a longer term view, personal / family, both within and outside of service.

From an old IWI view: first tour qualification, then OCU staff, and weapons related ground tour. The future was a re-tread back to the East Coast and less favourable two seat option – even with squadron promotion, and then back to the OCU/CTTO.
Volunteering for tp (perhaps in despair) sought alternative options. Interviews, etc completed, but no decision right up to the point of the new OCU course: – AOC level battle, IWI/OCU staff need vs IWI/tp need for a new AD project.
Tp option won, which in hindsight was most fortunate, even though there was no tp/IWI job after the course (project late), but research flying and dual tp tour enabled a most gratifying civilian option for the second half of a long flying career.
Of course you have to be lucky; but you can generate many aspects of luck by having more options / qualifications.
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