Seems very odd. In the RN when we visit a country we get LOA from the time the ship hits the jetty until the minute it leaves. On some deployments stretching 6/7 months you may be lucky to get LOA for about 20 odd days. Whenever I have been deployed there hasn't been a babysitter in sight and so I can't see what that has got to do with LOA. In fact, as I have said to my Mrs on many occasion..."don't worry love, You pay the council tax and I'll pay the LOA"....