I know at AWSTS (The MH-53E FRAC/FRS) that this was discussed prior to my departure their in early 2008. I was told though by the majority of the senior guys (nearing retiring status) that they didn't earn their wings until they got to their units (HM-14, HM-15, HM-16, HM-18, HC-2 (when they had CH-53E's) and HC-4.
I must agree with all that this makes sense. While I don't want to sound unkind about some of my fellow aircrewman, that 6 month Utility crewman qual and 18 month first crew qual got busted regularly. I am not one to speak, I was on shore duty when it was discovered that the instruction stated that I should have been 1st crew qualed. This is going to be unpopular, but they "good ole boy" club was iuin full force when decided who would go up for 1st crew, and they were not reading the instructions either.
I'm sure I let the cat out in my prior community, but that also illustrates to READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!