just another jocky; BEagle.
There are plenty of ex front-line people in the training system. Of the five at my current unit, 3 have plenty of time flying ops in everything from Corporate to Herrick, one is ex- Ground Branch commission, then myself, a mere ex officer cadet.
The customer appears inordinately happy with the product. I fully understand that there was a time when everything was done 'in-house', but times move on. Some of the punchiest QFIs I've flown with didn't serve full-time. It isn't a prerequisite. It also doesn't necessarily result in a lack of military ethos.