Just sticking my head in to say sorry you guys took such a bashing on that thread. I would imagine that the vast majority of normal, well-balanced people recognise the sterling, necessary job done by the forces, and that they can only do the difficult jobs they do with the wholehearted support of their families. What no-one appears to be prepared to recognise is that military roles are jobs like no other and if the taxpayer begrudges that little bit of financial support (presumably miniscule when set against the defence budget generally) needed to ensure that their families have the necessary support and stability, then I am embarrassed for this country.
My cousins were forces kids and they boarded in separate schools. They both had positive experiences and enjoy a strong relationship with their parents and with each other. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunities I was given by boarding school, and grateful to my grandparents for putting their own wishes aside and letting me go.
I don't expect everyone to agree with boarding school, but I have been pretty shocked by the level of vitriol and spite directed at families of boarders generally, and military families particularly.
I have sat on my hands since bowing out of that thread. Unfortunately that thread has, for some reason, attracted that fatal mix of deliberate sniping and people whipping each other up into a mild case of hysteria that spells the death of any reasonable discussion. Scaryteacher has spoken a good deal of sense and I would hope that anyone reading the thread will take her well-balanced views away and reject out of hand those comments along the lines of the one in the thread title.
I wish you and your families all well.