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As a former member of the Senior Service I feel I must defend it from your latest blog post.

The Press Gang may have be still active when you were a young reporter, but holidays, or to give it its correct term 'leave' is nothing new in the Andrews. Or the two other armed forces for that matter.

For example, most ships tend to do leave in two parts; advance and main leave. This is so the ship is still manned. For larger land based establishments leave tends to be in 'block' with a small crew to keep it ticking over.

Leave is vital because it gives servicemen/women the much needed chance to spend time with their friends and families. In some cases families fly out (out at their own expense) if a ship is deployed for a long period of time.

Furthermore, a large percentages of all British Forces in Afghanistan are from the Senior Service; including 845, 846, 847, 856 and 857 Naval Air Squadrons. 42 and 45 Commando RM, 3 Commando Brigade and many of the medical staff are also from the Senior Service.

lastly, let's spare a thought for all those service personal who are deployed in far flung and often dangerous shores defending the right of journalists to make comment.

"lastly, let's spare a thought for all those service personal,(sic), who are deployed in far flung and often dangerous shores defending the right of journalists to make comment."

Not forgetting defending the right of Councillor's to pay their taxes on time.

Pointing out typos and making personal comments all in one posting - nice!