Best post I've seen in a long time. These sentiments aren't only in the fighter community, they are in every (actual) operational unit out there.
At SOS our commandant told everyone in the auditorium to stand up if they thought they'd be promoted to Major, naturally everyone stood up. He then told everyone to sit down, noone would be promoted to Major. Only records get promoted.
This is our service and the messsage at formal PME. How can I tell my young pilots to be in the vault, studying systems, tactics, OPLANS, etc. when getting their masters and fluffing their OPR are the only things that get noticed?
I love my actual job and the people I work with more than anything, and so does my wife. But the queep and the family drain is mounting. Suddenly the ANG and a 9-5 makes a lot more sense...