Thanks for the solid response Zippy. I was afraid of the latter situation happening based on what I had read. What do you mean by your parentheses statement regarding rolling, upgrading, etc.)?
What confuses me is that they give pilots time to go back to VTs to train for a completely different platform, but would push out someone that's trying to transition different airframe within same community just because of timing.
Example 1) Individual goes to a P-3 squadron that is supposed to transition to P-8s while he's there. Due to shifting in timeline, qualifies as a P-3 PPC but he won't have very much time flying the P-8 after the squadron transitions if he stays so the squadron PCS's him at his 30 month mark in the squadron and 6 months after he qualifies instead of holding him longer so he can get the P-8 qual. Since he's not staying in the squadron for a full tour they don't bother with Mission Commander, FCF quals yet alone IP qual for him.
Example 2) Indivdual goes to a P-3 squadron and qualifies through 2p and then transitions as 2p... 6 month pause in upgrading due to transition then continues to upgrade to PPC in P-8. Due to additional 6 month delay in upgrading doesn't have the time remaining in the squadron post transition to make it worth the squadron investing in advanced quals.
Example 3) Individual upgrades to PPC in a P-3 then goes through the transition. VP-30 doesn't get in qualified PPC in P-8 due to the asassement that he needs additional flights which they are unwilling to provide even though they're the FRS and that's why they exist and he emerges post transition having to do the entire P-8 PPC syllabus because squadron leadership is unwilling to assume the liability of qualifying him PPC right away after a negative VP-30 endorsement. He qualifes P-8 PPC but squadron is not willing to invest in advanced quals due to performance issues during the transition.
The VP community has plenty of JO pilots due to crew manning requirments (30-36 pilots per squadron) so the leaderships in the squadrons feel they can cut their losses on individuals early and still have plenty of remaining pilots that they can groom for successful careers inside the community.