CUTTING the defence budget to get out of the financial black hole is all well and good.

But the impact of that will never be felt by those who make the decisions.

We flew from Kandahar to the air base in Cyprus on a Tristar, followed the usual drill of getting off while a series of engine checks took place. Just like the journey out to Camp Bastion, the plane broke down and they couldn’t repair it. But unlike the outgoing trip there was no spare plane.

After waiting in the departure lounge for four or five hours we were told the fault could not be repaired.

Then we were told the next flight home would not be until the following day at the earliest.

It was frustrating for me, but for the soldiers on rest and recuperation, or R&R, it was even worse.

They are given two weeks leave to go home in between their six month tour. They work seven days a week, get rest and sleep when they can, risk their lives, watch their friends die or get hurt – basically do a job the majority of us wouldn't think about doing - so is a smooth journey home too much to ask for?

More than anything they look forward to seeing their loved ones at home. It is their chance to get away from it all.

There are only a couple of Tristar used to transport soldiers to and from the UK and spare planes are in short supply.

When planes break down, the soldiers don’t get their time back when they lose a day or two or three.

That's not because their bosses are being harsh. It's purely because of the backlog of soldiers who need to go on R&R.

It would be impossible to ensure everyone could get their time off if days had to be added on every time a plane broke down.

As a civilian observer, you can’t help but feel that something needs to be sorted out.

You can't blame the RAF for the faults either, they are making the best out of the equipment they have got.

But surely investment in a fleet of non military aeroplanes which would take soldiers home and back to the front line without delays and cancellations is not an unreasonable request.