A pilot could be grounded for reasons of insanity upon making a formal request. However, the very act of requesting to be grounded—of trying to avoid more missions due to the understandable fear of death—proved one was sane, because only a sane person would want to avoid danger. Therefore, the request is denied. The catch is perfect and inescapable: if you ask, you don’t qualify; if you don’t ask, you can’t be excused.
A pilot could be grounded for reasons of insanity upon making a formal request. However, the very act of requesting to be grounded—of trying to avoid more missions due to the understandable fear of death—proved one was sane, because only a sane person would want to avoid danger. Therefore, the request is denied. The catch is perfect and inescapable: if you ask, you don’t qualify; if you don’t ask, you can’t be excused.