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Letters

UAV NAME IRRELEVANT

I understand the purpose of renaming unmanned aerial vehicles as remotely piloted vehicles, as suggested by Col. Pete Gersten [“The name game,” Aug. 24]. The idea is to more accurately emphasize that there are still people controlling the UAVs.

However, I have suspicions about the intent.

There is a widespread panic among pilots in the Air Force, particularly from the fighter world, about their job security. The term pilot as we know it in the Air Force is quickly being dissolved into the ambiguous world of the UAV. But there has always been a person directing the actions of the UAV, they just are not allowed to call themselves pilots under the Air Force lexicon.

If the colonel is really concerned about the accuracy of the UAV name, then why not call them unoccupied aerial vehicles? This still provides an accurate description of the vehicle and does not require an acronym change.

The debate over the UAV name is unnecessary for two reasons. First, the Defense Department’s approved terms for UAVs include both unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely piloted vehicles. Second, the new name is not new at all — the same descriptive terms were used in 2005 by the authors of “The U.S. Air Force Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Strategic Vision.”

Senior Master Sgt. Gregory L. Wise

Songton, South Korea

TRUST IS NO JOKE

As a security forces member, I was outraged to read “The Trust game” [Sept. 14].

The idea of the game is simply unacceptable. I have been in this career field for years and we know that joking or gesturing with your weapon is wrong.

Are there negligent discharges? Yes, but few and far between, thanks to Combat Arms Training and Maintenance.

Senior Airman Markeis McCray

Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.

FIX RESERVE PROMOTIONS

I’ve been in the Air Force for almost 21 years. In the beginning, I was active duty, then a traditional drilling reservist and now a full-time air reserve technician.

Reservists are supposed to have the same fitness system — and everything else — as active-duty members. But the promotion system is not the same.

I’ve seen many reservists promoted who didn’t deserve it, and many not get promoted who did deserve it but weren’t in the right “slot.” For example, I’ve been eligible since July 1999, when I completed my professional military education, as I was supposed to.

Why are Air Force reservists not able to test like active-duty folks and earn their stripes like the rest of the Air Force?

Tech. Sgt. Kimberly A. Browne

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.

STOP FREE RIDES

Rather than freeloading off Air Force resources, many government VIPs could easily be accommodated by services from any of the dozens of quality companies offering aircraft charters.

Save the Air Force aircraft for trips that really require their security, communications and other capabilities.

Col. Michael R. Gallagher (ret.)

Hillsboro, Ore.

SIMPLIFY GI BILL TRANSFERS

I signed up for the GI Bill in 1992 and was told I would not be able to sign up later. I had $100 a month taken out of my check for 12 months.

I was broke then — married and living off base without a vehicle because I could not get a car loan.

Sixteen years and three kids later, Congress passed the new Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008.

My military wife, who had already re-enlisted at her 20-year mark, was able to transfer her GI Bill with no extension or re-enlistment because she was retirement-eligible.

I had more than 16 years and was on an enlistment that took me out to 20 years, but could only transfer my GI Bill if I extended four years — until August 2013 — a full nine months past my 20-year total active federal military service date.

I know people would say, “it’s just nine months,” but how is 20 years not enough? I work around people who turned down the GI Bill years ago and now sign up for the new one for free, and the ones who are retirement-eligible transfer it with no extra service required.

I know I had the choice of switching to the new GI Bill or transferring the GI Bill to dependents. But I think a simplified rule would have sufficed: If you serve 20 years, you get to transfer the GI Bill.

Master Sgt. Steven Mayne

Minot Air Force Base, N.D.