"The fudging of hours for IR recency or CT hours might have no bearing on this particular tragedy, but what kind of culture is it exposing?"
Perhaps it showcases an issue familiar to many on the Front Line; namely that VSOs need a plethora of currency 'requirements' and computer based tracking tools to copper-bottom themselves against comeback whilst providing unrealistic targets and insufficient resource to achieve the task. Why? They've continued to perpetuate the myth that you can cut resource and increase output...because the previous incumbents of their jobs managed it why can't they? Final proof perhaps that there are more 'be-ers' than 'do-ers' at the top of the RAF.....
Oh for a system that bred supervisors and VSOs that understood the issues and constraints, rather than hide behind a computer spreadsheet and say 'all was well on my watch...'.