'guarantee of a posting to the other side of the Country'
Try other end as well, I arrived at Lossie mid eighties along with another guy from a Tanker squadron. We got talking and he came out with this story.
He had contacted Handbrake House to ask if he was on any posting shortlists, in turn they contacted Innsworth, and it was decreed that he was not on any lists. Within a few weks he and his wife (a WRAF) had found the house they wanted and started the buying trail. Eventually it got to the day of signing contracts which was duly done one morning -- on his return to the squadron at lunchtime he was told the boss wanted to see him, I think you can guess why. They put it back on the market without ever moving in!!!