Dundiggin,
I think you may be a little out of touch with the RAF attitude to aircrew. A couple of years ago the AAC was short of experienced instructors (so not much has changed there) and insisted that the RAF honour an agreement it had made and send them an experienced QHI. The RAF didn't bother to seek volunteers, they simply told their most experienced Chinook QHI (and only A1 on type) that he was posted to Wallop to start in 4 weeks time! It came as a bit of a shock to the stn cdr when he PVRd the next working day! Oh, and he only had 4 years to serve to 55. So much for being treasured!