In a similar vein, one reason that I left the AF was a lack of opportunity for navigators. It was (and still is, a pilot's AF). There was one navigator general in the AF back then and he was also a lawyer heading up the Judge Advocate's branch. The Air National Guard was also of that ilk. The first navigator to head the NY Air Guard as a two star general had to have a waiver passed to allow a navigator to hold that position. The waiver was rescinded when he retired. I was one of the very few full colonels who was a navigator only because that navigator two star fought to have me promoted. All the rest were pilots.

Much of the discussion these days and in this thread deal with absolutes. This is a grey world with fewer black and white arguments as we progress. The adage, "walk a mile in my shoes" has never been more relevant as it is today.