Very funny how the Air Force treats its officers after they dedicate most of their growing life to the service. A case in point - an officer has put up for premature retirement after near 24 yrs of dedicated service due to compelling family reasons (compassionate gds) - after 24 yrs of service these applications are supposed to be considered favourably. However, the case is turned down because he has been detailed for a long 40 week course and he falls a few weeks short of 24 yrs (at that time-now completed 24 yrs). Well the flipside- noone asks you whether u want to go for the course or not. You are'nominated'/ 'detailed' to do the course irrespective of whether u want to or not - the course once you go for it, has a legal liability that you will serve the defence for the next 5 years or if you leave in between you pay for the prohibitively high cost of the course (on a pro-rata basis based on how much time out of 5 yrs have u served after the course). You do not sign a bond, no-one asks you, even if you write saying I don't want to do the course and submit an adverse career certificate ---you are forced to do the course, followed by being forced to serve for 5 yrs more (irrespective of promotion, family compulsions, etc) or pay up a substantial amount. How is this legally posssible? Not logical at all.