Unlike civilian employment, ADF personnel are not able to select their employment location. For instance a single member on posting to Townsville may have his next of kin living in Perth. A return airfare between these locations would be a significant impost for a low paid junior member. Hence the entitlement of one return airfare or motor vehicle mileage allowance warrant per year. Single personnel have paid for rations and quarters since at least the early 1960s - albeit subsidised. In addition, they receive free medical and dental treatment. These entitlements are a condition of service on enlistment and are used as an enticement to encourage young people to enlist. Maintaining recruitment levels of suitable people has always been difficult and the removal of the free travel warrant will just make recruiting harder.
