So show me the ROI calculation for a 5 year SWO, 10 year aviator, and a 20 year aviator from a dude who payed his own way through college and headed to OCS, NROTC 4 year scholarship recipient to a nice state school like Ohio State, and finally an Academy grad with pay, benefits and a guestimate for the cost per year. Staying in service longer may or may not be a good thing. Being promoted could follow the same logic (follows below). What good is the USNA for the long term image through all the silly shit that has occured since the EE scandal/drugs/hazing/murder/rape debacles in the 90's and on?
You are correct, the marginal cost per year of an Academy guy/gal decreases comparativelly at the 20 year point, but none the less will be higher than the other two. The promotion to higher ranks/staying longr generally means jack shit, its a matter of being willing to suck a little schlang for beer money, sacrificing family and self respect for a retirement check (speaking from MY experience here dammit!)... hate to burst your bubble if your a firstie, but the greatest leaders are not the folks with birds/stars on their collar. Succeeding in the "system" doesn't make you great at anything but being either lucky or at playing in it or around it. NPS studies are done by in-work graduate students... I'll get and post the CNA study soon if able (not nec. right, but done by PHD's with copious experience in/around the NAV).