Today I recieved a parcel from my son who is in Afghanistan.  I't a Harley TShirt.  In the logo where it normaly says Motor this says Kabul and in the bottom of the logo where it normaly says Cycles this says Afghanistan.

I will wear this one with pride

Come home soon and safe son.

Respect to your son.
Hope he comes home in one piece..

Granox mate wear that shirt with pride.... It was bought with you in mind so wear the bugger..

 

 Give Him our best wishes from us and tell him to stay safe.

He was actually based in Townsville and will be returning back there in about 3 months time. He was in the marine division on the landing craft in Townsville.

Thank you Mick

Oh by the way that's a girl on the right

Thank you OZ

 Is the Government still offering cheap Defence Home loans to our Service man who see a bit of action.

We got offered loans in my day, a fraction better than the normal bank rates. 

Also we were told at 55 you receive a Gold Card from the Government. Hopefully they won't reneg on this one.

These days you get offered a thing called DOHAS which is the Defence Owners / Ownership Home Assistance Scheme which is offered to anyone completing four years of service or more regardless of if they deploy or not. It also increases dependant on time served and only allows you to use three banks being National, ADCU and Defcredit so not really a big choice.

You dont get a gold card or anything like that unless your medically discharged and your injury is evaluated to be a permanent impairment by DVA and relevant to the type and severity of injury. If recognised by DVA at least you get a white card which has some decent privilleges that come from it such a cheaper rego and PBS.

Unfortunately our benefits just keep getting taken away more and more each year until there will be nothing left. This term they've decided to remove annual free flights home for all soldiers over 21 years old and are in discussions now to remove the flights from all soldiers unless its work related even from the Members Unaccompanied meaning their family is in another state whilst they serve elsewhere.

The latest one which came into effect as of 1st July is to remove the rising sun badge from the garde two slouch hat being the one that doesnt have the side up that is worn daily as general dress. Apparently, and I use the term loosely, some colonel or general decided that the rising sun was being disrespected because it faced the ground. So because of that hierarchy decided to take it off the grade two slouch and only leave it on the grade one ceremonial slouch hat.

Yet its been worn as that for almost a hundred years and has seen numerous service through numerous campaigns yet there has never been a problem until now. Bullshit.

Its blatant cost cutting by a retarded government. They've already stripped us down to skin and bones and are now removing a further five billion from our budget to rebuild the surplus. Smart move removing it from defence budget dipshit. Defence now has the lowest budget since the 1930's and also has the lowest defence budget in the western developed countries as a percentage of its GDP.

A few years ago we used to have our defence budget as 2% of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for those who dont know its the money we spend on budgets and shit in Australia, and I hate to think what it is now with all these cuts - 1% 0.5% pitchforks and a pat on the back?

Most of the time we can barely afford ammuntition to fire for training and have to count each round fired. Ill end my rant here but yes enlist and do your bit but serve your time as all citizens should and stay on if you want. Otherwise get an apprenticeship.

Im a proud and serving member but what the government is doing to Defence is a joke. I guess they're too interested in lining their own pockets and developing anti association laws and flying around in chartered jets to listen to those on the ground.

Hey Fatmick, totally agree with you, I found also once your out of the service, the Government doesn't want to know you.

Have a mate who has some medical issues related to Desert Storm, While we were doing a tour of Kuwait he was popping in and out of Iraqi tanks, these tanks were destroyed by uranium enriched shells.

Problems with his health now, we all think related to this.

Government doesn't give a toss afterwards what happens to you.

Thats not too good about your mate Allde and I feel for him. Give the poor bugger a pat on the back from me.

 

 To avoid hijacking your very important post Granox I've created a separate one about defence cuts. Ten out of ten to you and your son, and everyone else doing their bit.

 

Yes obviously wear that T with pride mate.

Good luck to you and your son.

Good on him Granox, there can be nothing finer than representing your country in any way, but for me, as in your son, it's doning the uniform. In god most people trust, but the Austeyr The Australian Army Trusts.

ha ha come on, your RAEME you should know better then anyone how great the steyr really is.

If its not the firing pin its the bloody trigger mech and so on.

They shouldnt have renewed the contract and given us the M4.

But your right, sliding that uniform on and knowing your meant to be in it is a good feeling - even if your wearing PD's ha ha

Sorry mate couldnt resist a jab. I love RAEME though good guys with a ton of knowledge.

No worries fatmick, I would have the M4 anyday, but the trusty o'l SLR was the go in my days. I did the early Styer conversion course, but I was mainly field force and we where issued M16 with M203. Nice piece of kit.

Cheers mate.

Thanks everyone for the support not just for him but all those in the forces away

Hey,does the T shirt look like this

My sons an AV TECH in the air force and recently came home from his 2nd tour in Afghanistan. He could'nt resist gettin the shirt for Granny ,while he was there. Granny wears it all the time and with pride. As a mother i know exactly how your feeling,  so so very proud but also so so looking forward to them getting home safe.

                                                                Cheers to your boy and mine

                                                                           BAZZ XX