Op allowance current arrangements don't cut it for me. Why should some raging bluntie at bastion be entitled to the same as a patrolling soldier? Just because they both spend 6 months away from family. I don't think so. The elephant in the govt/MOD is that we cannot live within our means whilst still in Afghanistan.....we don't want to admit it because if we pull out then we are ripe for more of HM cricket bat in the one-way valve.