She was offered a posting at a location where she would not of been deployed on operations for a while. This would of given her a few extra years of stability without being deployed. But sooner or later she would have to deploy on training exercises and military operations. If she does not take her turn, then somebody else who has completed 6-7 month operational tours is having to do an extra 6-7 months away from their family, to what they have already done. The armed forces do have, and offer many compassionate postings to serving members who may need a little extra time to deal with personal welfare problems or similar issues.
Single parents in the armed forces should not expect to be exempt from deploying on 6 month tours. Why should they expect the same pay and pension benefits for working Monday to Friday 8-5 as a married service person who has to work extra weekends, go on exercises for weeks at a time and operational deployments away from their own family. Childcare is not the militarys' responsibility, nor any other employers responsibility, it is that of the parent.
We do have many single parents in the military who are more than capable of doing their job, including operational deployments just as their married and single colleagues. My wife is looking after my 2 children whilst I am here in Afghanistan for 7 months; and there are also many single parents here who have managed to arrange childcare. Why should she be different?
Phew, rant over. People cannot expect to join the armed forces and not have to work away. There are strong feelings about this over here amongst serving personnel, and they are not nice ones.
