Speaking as someone who hasn't yet retired I do wonder what planet Stu Peach is on. The yearly reduction in pay, and it is a reduction (my take home dropped by £370 as a result of this year's pay round) and the continual 'management of decline' do not make the Armed Forces an enjoyable place to be anymore. Despite the 'red tape challenge' I have yet to see ANY bureaucracy swept away particularly with the endless justification and authorisation to spend funds that have already been justified and authorised as part of the budgetary cycle! Counting down the days.....