'Thank you' leave given to Army
 

A fitting gesture imho but there will no doubt be people out there who will interpret it as an efficiency measure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20573387

Non-essential shiny-arsed personnel. Kicking sand in the face of the workers.

Don't get me wrong, the troops assisting with the Olympics should get something extra, as should deployed troops (they do), but why should some guy sitting on his arse at an office role in Bulford get five extra days?

And why not the Navy and Air Force, who also took part in the Olympic security detail?

I have a somewhat more Prussian view on performance of one's duty (the precise word I am after would be "Pflichterfüllung" in German). Pflichterfüllung must not be thanked for, or rewarded, because it is a duty. If it earns privileges and is being rewarded, than it is not really a duty.

And Herr Berbunch is right. Millions of people must do much more exhausting and stupid jobs day in day out, even during Christmas time, without getting special treatement or rewards for additional stress and overtime shifts. Not that that necessarily is a correct thing. I just compare.

Is this the best this crass coalition can offer!

I tend to agree actually but it is up to those that aren't going to benefit to speak out surely.

Yep it only counts if your rank is Captain or above.

"Non essential" in military terms means anyone who doesn't have the duty on those days. Fighters like Infantrymen, Tankers etc, unless deployed in a combat zone are all considered to be non-essential in this instance.

Rgr that but I hope those currently posted in combat situations are given the extra leave on their return from deployment.