Back in late 90s.
2 Dental Officers of similar age and stage in career. (in fact both on same PQO course)
Both in BAOR. Both coming to time of posting, both asked by CO where they would like to go.
Capt W. I would like to be posted to South of England, My mother lives near Gatwick and is widowed and unwell.
FF. I would like to remain in BAOR, really quite enjoy it here.
Few weeks go by, posting orders come out.
Capt W is to remain in BAOR
FF to Chatham.
Both speak to CO and to Postings lot, pointing out previous conversations and preferences..
Both told it is not possible to change such postings.
Capt W, Immediately signed off and spent most of remaining time back and forth on compassionate leave.
FF, Not happy but stayed on, when told that once again next posting would be South of England, declined to remain as my time was up.
I would like to think the modern Army is a little more flexible but somehow I doubt it.
I had a similar experience as a Sergeant, I was in Canada as permanent staff ( yes I know I was privileged to have been posted there in the first place) But when my time came to an end I requested a posting to BAOR, I loved Germany, plus at the time there was no pets for passports scheme between UK & Canada, but there was between Germany & Canada and UK and Germany. We had our dog, Barney our black labrador in Canada with us, so I hoped we could take him straight into Germany with no quarantine, then after the Germany posting, if we ended up back in UK, he could travel back with us and no quarantine again. A colleague, a fellow sergeant, wanted UK, specifically the south coast.
Posting orders came in, he to Paderborn, me to Thorny Island! No problem, can we swap? Nope, you’ve had your sunshine posting Sgt MH, you will return to UK! Gutted!
Barney went in to quarantine, and even though we visited him and they were extremely good with him, he never got over 6 months in solitary, and I never quite forgave the Army, I never realised Germany was considered a sunshine posting.