I can't see us not getting an inflation matching pay rise - the government are trying hard to say they value us and all that guff. The AFPRB recommend the award, they will clearly recommend something at least at inflation and the government would have to ignore that. Not very likely.
Remember the pay cuts and job losses in the private sector are to do with fall off in the level of business - we are busier than we are established to be, doing more without enough people or kit. Gordon knows he would be remembered ass the man who paid soldiers less to get killed......
It wont be much but it'll be better than a lot, and we deserve it, 10 years ago we would probably not have but it's today and right now as I write this some soldier, sailor or airman is in very immediate harms way and is earning a hell of a lot more than will be in his bank on Friday (at opening time, before his wife goes shopping anyway....)