To Phil R (if you are still around)
A great many military folk couldn't really give a monkeys. It is a procedure that you go through as part of your job. The individual servicemen and women, know who they work for, why they do it and when they would stop. By and large they do a magnificent and professional job, without overthinking the trivia and inconsequential.
If they discuss this sort of stuff it's probably when they have had one too many in the bar. Generally, if single, they are more interested in where the next shag is coming from. And if married, where the kids will go to school.
Spraffing about this stuff is generally the preserve of anally retentive old timers, such as me, with too much time on their hands.
If you are thinking of joining you can pretty much ignore everything your read on pprune...it does not represent modern military culture one iota.