An important nuance that most of us have probably missed here is that there's a difference between senior and old. The old, seriously old, and chronically old are scattered throughout the seniority list -- not just at the top. Except for the Anchorage, Los Angeles, and Subic Bay blocks, where only Captains and First Officers exist, most (if not all) blocks have Over-60 members. I'm nowhere near that ancient age, yet I have several members of my new-hire class in that category. There are Over-60 guys in my Block, and in the Block junior to me. I'm not certain, but I'd bet there are some in Block 7 as well.

What if all the Over-60 guys were junior? Would that make a difference in how you feel about letting them bid the right seat? What if we let them go back to the end of the seniority list when they turn 60, and then bid what they can hold? The only people that would be affected are the ones that haven't been hired yet. That way it wouldn't slow you down, right? Would that make it easier to swallow?





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