Sounds like the same BS I put up with 15+ years ago. Same sheet of music....slightly different tune. Even then career aviators were few and far between and discouraged. I showed my cards too early and spent the last 5 months on active duty GROUNDED. Wing Commanders policy, was NOT to allow separating aircrew to fly unless they were mission essential, some IP's and ALL EP's. Unfortunately for me the first gulf war had gotten in the way of my IP upgrade slot at the Rock so...... ride the pine. the AF was always a political animal, but sounds even more so now. Still the finest bunch of pilots I ever flew with.