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Reading military history you get a strong feeling that there are "elites" and "slums", areas with no basis in objective reality. In the 20's and 30's the RN regarded anti-submarine warfare as a slum--F.J. Walker was regarded as eccentric for chosing it as a specialty. Same with the FAA, a guaranteed career-killer.
One impression I got from the Tailhook controversey was that helo pilots aren't regarded with the same respect as fighter or strike pilots. Hard to believe of any organization that regards itself as professional, or sane--unless someone thinks that subs are averted and pilots are rescued by the aura of their own perfection.
AKA "You know I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am."
John Jervis was the man who said they can not come by sea, and it was a statement based on fact, not hauteur. These decisions have to be made on a similar basis, not the thought of Arleigh Burke rolling in his grave.
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