Just jumping back to the pay and retention issues for a moment, I have to report that neither I nor those around me have seen anything just recently that would suggest any work in these areas.
I do hope so, both from a purely selfish perspective, but also from the bigger capability perspective. The latest, and what I can only regard as almost intentionally alarmist cost cutting rumour from my end if the trench concerns X-factor. We're running on fumes and the good will tank is empty, that really would kill the Military off in any sense as an option for a sane person looking for a decent career.