Why do we need housing?
I have sympathy with the sentiments but I think that we - the MOD plc - will find it increasingly difficult to justify in the future to the Treasury the provision of housing. At present, SFA is heavily subsidised (where else could you rent a 3 brm detached house with a garage (albeit leaky) in the Chilterns for about GBP 300 pcm, inclusive of 'council tax') and not be subject to Inland Revenue fringe benefit taxation.
Yes, I can hear the screams now - ours is not a job, its a life style etc etc - however teachers, police, nurses, fire-fighters and other public-sector workers have to provide housing within their gnerally meagre salaries (well, perhaps not fire-fighters!). For years the RN has encouraged private home ownership away from home ports (read - discourage married patches) without any obvious operational penalty.
As one who has lived all over the country in a variety of well-maintained and spacious SFA, my most satisfying experience was to sit recently on my own front step of my modest terraced house with a mug of tea and a newspaper and contemplating my (large)mortgage. I suggest that other people try it and appreciate the concept of self-reliance. I believe - and I have socialised this with a number of colleagues - that SFA should be regarded as a transitionary step and not as a substitute womb. Too many people are still leaving the Services without adequate provision of housing. In many cases it is their own fault.
I suspect this may have upset some/a lot of people.