As you seem to be looking at the SCEO SW&SWales post I'd make sure you are fully aware of the realistic day to day role of the job and the politics that come with it.

Good luck whatever you decide.

I was involved in an interesting conversation earlier today reference the promotion profile of an FTRS officer, and specifically the time frame that an individual took to get from SO3 to SO1. Can someone clarify whether or not FTRS are subject to the same time constraints and pre-requisite quals between ranks as regulars? Or as it would appear, Manning just make it up to suit?

Surely by their very reason for existence FTRS are entitely post related and promotion etc has no effect or meaning?

To go to a lower rank is easy, but to go upwards then you need to achieve this (for example a Sqn Ldr looking to become a Wg Cdr):

Must either have been, or currently be, a Wing Commander or a Squadron Leader eligible for promotion in accordance with AP 3393 Vol 1 and AP 7000

So the criteria is the same, but the promotion board competition will likely be far fewer - most FTRS posts have fewer than half a dozen at interview.

LJ

No, nothing to stop Flt Lt FTRS applying for another Sqn Ldr FTRS post and so on. Happens fairly regularly IME, often no choice as with FTRS you can only interview the people who apply, and dependent on location it may not be many!

So if a regular officer has done less than the prerequisite time as an SO2 to be boarded for an SO1 post, iaw the AP, he would not be considered for promotion. However, if an FTRS officer who left as an SO3, rejoins as an SO2, and then after say 2-3 years with a 'Yes' for promotion, applies for an SO1 FTRS post and is successful (because there is no one else applying) that is acceptable?

Pretty much!

Minimum of 4 years in substantive rank before an individual can presented to a Promotion Board.

Met some pretty 'average' FTRS people who were delighted to be one rank higher than they were when regular. Also met some who could not make it in corporate/civilian world, and retreated with tales between legs back into FTRS uniform.

Leave it behind. Move on to something else. My personal opinion only, but going back smacks a little of failure.