flap62,
Your second post has put your first one in context and there is nothing that you have said that I would disagree with. You have hit the nail on the head for this thread with ".. other fleets and times ..".
One aspect that must be considered is that everyone who applies to ETPS is a volunteer. For each available slot, the most suitable candidate is selected. He may not be the best from his fleet but if the best do not apply then we will not see them in the tp world. Everyone has different aspirations and suitabilities so the spectrum of tps is wide. There have been cases were ETPS wished to select very good applicants but 'manning' wanted those individuals for other appointments, and usually ETPS have lost. But, in the best interests of the service perhaps that was the correct decision.