For obvious reasons, Afghanistan is an alcohol-free zone as far as British service personnel are concerned.
Two years ago Wing Commander Steve Chadwick started a campaign ‘Beer for the Boys‘ to provide every service man and woman with a can of lager or beer on the way home at the end of their 6-month tour of duty.
I felt it would be a nice thing to do after the guys had done their time in theatre, on behalf of a grateful nation and the RAF,” he said. “The principle is that a single can of cold beer thrust into the hand of a soldier once the TriStar is safely away from the ground and out of harm’s way marks the point at which he knows he is going home after six months of fighting. It is just a token, but an important one.”
Brewers Scottish & Newcastle and Dutch brewers, Grolsch have generously donated enough cans to ensure every soldier gets one at the end of his or her 6 month tour of duty.
Wing Commander Steve Chadwick, however, would like to extend the scheme to provide a beer for service personnel returning home before the end of their 6 month tour – so-called 2-week rest & recuperation spells midway through their tour of duty.
Heaven knows I have been pretty vocal in criticising the presence of British (and other national) forces in Afghanistan but my criticism is directed at the assholes (Bush & Blair) who put them there in the first place and the current lot of spineless politicians who lack the courage to bring them home. I have nothing but respect for the men and women who daily put their lives at risk in Afghanistan. A beer seems the least one can do to show that respect so I shall be sending some ‘beer money’ to the Wing Commander.
Anyone else who would like to do the same can send a cheque to -
Wing Cdr Chadwick at 216 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire OX18 3LX.
Make cheques payable to – “SIF Funds, RAF Brize Norton” and write “Beer for the boys” on the back
