It seems like getting ahead is a good idea. If nothing else, if you come to TBS with tan or gray already, you'll build proficiency doing the haze-ex while doing the week of training at TBS.
I'm actually not opposed to MCMAP for excessive aviator injuries. My thoughts on that are along the lines of Col Jessup. "You mean we have a United States Marine who can't run from point A to point B without hurting himself?" I just think it's an obscenely complicated system where they added ninja moves so that there would be enough gradeable items to have a belt system. Marines don't need to be able to win a movie fight with Jackie Chan. They only need to be able to get an opponent down on the ground and stomp on his face. That only takes maybe 10 or so moves, that should be simple and easy to remember under stress, not a litany of items where memory is more important than execution. "Perform a double reverse underhand backward arm lock from the sitting position with supine opponent...check!" We used to have a system like that--the LINE program, which was based on techniques proven in WWII. Now, we have these MACE guys who get paid to go to UFC, Muy Thai, and for all I know, Kumite (which doesn't actually exist, BTW) to cook up new crap to pack into MCMAP.
That said, I think that IF YOU HAVE TIME TO KILL in a pool, you may as well try to advance in belt. As a new check-in lieutenant you all start out equally worthless. If you show more initiative and willingness to work and improve than your peers, as exemplified by MCMAP belts, being done with EWS, speaking Pashtun, whatever, it can't be a bad thing. Just don't lord your ninja status over others like you're a trained killer or anything, because your primary weapons system is your T/M/S, not your hands, a rifle, pistol, or whatever else.
