There is a fair bit of nostalgic thought here about the RAAF with lament about even leaving in the first place. There was a pretty good reason to leave back then and I can confirm that the good old days are well and truly gone.
The ADF wasn’t the place you joined and your life outlook had changed….. since then I can confirm that the two have likely diverged even further.
Add to this less flying, ROSOs for captaincy, significantly lower pay(25-30%) since the 2009 pay determination all whilst maintaining the same flying standards.... not to mention longer ROSOs and IMPS on sign up ……unless you are female where it is only one year (the good women I know hate this because it utterly devalues their hard work!).
As a side note I know guys who had received their letter of offer one day apart leading to a 25-30% pay difference.... the irony is the guy who is on the poorer pay finished course first and is now in a position with far more responsibility..... yet another nail in the coffin for a lot of people.
There is good reason guys/girls are leaving - knowing your schedule more than 24 hours out, spending less time away (but flying more), actually having career progression, not being posted continually, partners can only take so much.
Guys and girls I know are near burnt out before they even reach the Sqns.
…..Or you could just take a cadetdship with a guaranteed job at the end, significant less work, significantly less stress, certainty for your family, no prospect of a desk job, all whilst being on the seniority list.
As a closing remark to those who wish they never left..... the ADF is different now and it wouldn't be very hard to get back in at all with the new SERCAT system, so the option is there to put your toe back it......... DO IT, I dare you! You'd would be the fortunate ones by being on the Fly scheme AND MSBS ……..or even OASS.