CONCERNING the letter headlined 'My husband risks his life for you' (Mailbox, December 11), I have been a serving soldier for more than 14 years and I do not have the right to strike, unlike this lady's husband.

So far, I have not really seen the need to, as our pay is quite good, unless we get sent off to some far off land for six month periods or longer - if you're a married soldier, you lose a percentage of an allowance that is given to all soldiers, their spouses and children based overseas. Now that's a reason to strike.

We, in the armed forces, don't have the luxury of working for 12 hours per day for three days and 12 hours per day for three nights, then having three days off at home with our families. We are on call 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year.

Has your husband ever said 'goodnight' to your child/children knowing that you won't see that child again for three, four, five or six months or longer? Your husband, although he has a high risk job, should not have the right to strike - he should accept his lot.

We Soldiers, Sailors and Royal Air Force personnel do. We grumble, we complain, but we get on with it. We know there are risks - that is why we volunteered for this line of work. Just like your husband volunteered for his line of employment.

I know one thing - I would gladly swap places with your husband. He has an easy life - not very easy, but easy none the less.

Incidentally, not only is my Regiment now going onto 12 hour shifts to ensure we are battle ready for a very possible deployment to the Middle East, but we are now working weekends, without overtime pay and no three days off afterwards.

My daughter is overjoyed with the fact that daddy will not only miss her birthday, but mummy's, as well as both grandmas' and both grandads' birthdays, too.

A British Army Soldier

(name and address supplied)