Irish troops are forking out up to €800 of their own money to get home from overseas tours for holidays.
One long-serving soldier told the Irish Mirror he had splashed out thousands of euro for flights.
He said: “You are representing your country and doing your duty and are made to pay for it."
The dad of two, based in the west, said the Defence Forces won’t cover the cost for leave flights – even though they can’t stay where they are stationed.
The soldier, who cannot be identified but has completed overseas tours, including in Chad, Africa, said he has to spend between €345 and €800 to get home while on leave.
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He added: “I have been in the Defence Forces for years. I have been overseas a number of times and have had to pay to get home each time when on leave. I’m a private soldier and every one of us has to pay for our flights home.
“You are not allowed to stay in the country [in which] you are stationed on leave, so it doesn’t leave any other alternative but to fork out.
“You get a three-week period off on leave during a six-month period away. It’s scandalous.”
The father, in his mid-30s, added: “Something needs to change. Our flights home while on leave should be covered or at the very least subsidised.
“They brought us over so it should be their duty of care to bring us back.”
A Defence Forces spokesman said: “In certain exceptional cases where personnel are required to return to Ireland the cost of flights shall be at national expense.
“The cost of flights may also be at national expense for travel on compassionate grounds while on special leave.”
