people who haven't downed the kool aid but make it to 20. they exist, and if i make it i'd be proud to be counted among them, lol.
They do exist. I have 420 days left. I consider myself an accidental colonel. Having the mindset of playing the role but not really being in with both feet
may seem disingenuous to some but it is a self protective mind game for me when asked to do something inane, certainly not prison rape but find your happy place applies.
And yes 100% admin roles are plentiful as you age up in the Air Force. They see nothing wrong with taking the only "insert your critical specialty here" and move them into
a command job. In fact I am sweating that now as if they PCS me before 1 July I will be obligated to do an extra unplanned year of service and possibly lose my dream job.
I have volunteered to do what looks like a sucky job because there are far worse jobs out there.
Back to the VA, I would be willing to transition after retirement but the low pay and bureaucracy would be eerily similar. Not having a business man in charge of my daily workload
would be nice but I realize it would be a bureaucrat or congressman in charge instead.