My continuous advice to young people of all ranks, rates and accents - leave the UK armed forces as quickly as you can.
My son did exactly that......and quit the UK too. Why anyone thinks they matter is beyond me....that's not cynicism.....it's reality. When you stop enjoying the work, move on. When you get that, everything else falls in to place. I suspect the vso wasn't expressing his own opinion....he was just giving an honest opinion?