Willie,
No one is discounting your goal to have a Command.
What is at issue is that aspirants are placing so much importance on what they read on this web site or hear from their mates or even what they get told from a telephone call to Virgin HR in regard to what their probable career path is going to be.
It all means Nought. Nada. Nothing.
NOTHING!
I have been with Virgin for 13 years, the industry since 1978 and a Command for 20 years and have no idea if I will retire with them or find myself overseas again before I retire as a First Officer or Captain.
Why do pilots aspiring to join think that they will have any guarantee of where, what, when and how their career will unfold.
Yet they place and worry so much about the importance on "years to Command" as they make the decision if they should accept a job.
Take the job if it is offered.
Worry about if it is not offered!
I'm out.