[perardua]

I agree, it's not something that is common. The entirely anecdotal example I gave is the only case I ever heard of where it got that far, and certainly it's not something that happens much in the UK (apart from with the ubiquitous station bike, if you're that way inclined) or while deployed. Certainly within units you rarely get more than flirting. In fact, I think that inter-unit, service or (as in this case) international flings are more common in these situations, a bit of the old "what goes on tour stays on tour".


However, my point (which I made badly) was that it's unrealistic to think it won't happen. Interestingly, part of the brief on arrival in Afghanistan was being told that STDs are increasingly a problem around Kandahar Airfield, mainly due to people being stupid on R&R, but increasingly due to bored troops getting some while on tour.