And being prior military myself, I can't tell you how many times I've seen some "fast burner" who majored in butt-kissing move up the ladder, and he couldn't fly his way out of a wet paper bag. It's MUCH more political than a seniority system on the outside. Besides, if you would rather hang out in the right seat, you don't get as much of the hairy eyeball as to your "dedication" as you do in the military.