The small number of guys and girls on the Sentinel fleet really have had a torrid time. A staccato introduction into service, suffering cuts in the development phase whilst simultaneously deployed on ops and never being allowed to bed down or achieve fully trained steady-state aircrew and groundcrew.
Since 2010 they entered the twilight zone by having almost all support removed, told they were surplus to requirement yet deployed to 2 then 3 operational theatres with no hope of roulemont. The capability moved from a core programme to a UOR; individual total time deployed went off the charts, PJHQ and theatre commanders wanted all aircraft everywhere, leapt on every stutter in output and deferred everything they could to maximise immediate output over medium-term output.
Recent years has seen a glimmer of light to finally fund and sustain the fleet, yet it is back to the chopping block. One hopes someone somewhere learns the lessons how not to treat the personnel (aircrew, groundcrew, contractor and PT staff) that really are the true capability.