Mini, I am sure things re number of staff officers are different now but they weren't back in the late '90s. The RAF was vastly overmanned compared to the RN. However, the real issue is that Jointery can increase the rank loading on a Service rather than reduce it. The MAA is another case in point - what is the size of this 3* led organisation compared to what went before? I am not debating its necessity just the manpower burden it has imposed on Defence.