Military Community, military installations, discussions, blogs, photos, videos - Military Times

Letters

MAKE DEPLOYMENTS FAIR

The editorial [“Deployment policy unfair,” Oct. 12] states that outdated air expeditionary force rotations have caused inequities, but the problem goes deeper than just the outdated rotations.

The biggest problem is personnel: the people who miraculously are on profile every time they find out it is their time to deploy, the women who just so happen to get pregnant or seem to always be pregnant when it is their time, or the people who simply pass the buck for whatever reason they can come up with at the time.

I have deployed six times in my 10-year military career, and it amazes me to come across people who have been in the same amount of time, if not longer, but have never deployed. I think if the powers that be do what needs to be done, and let go of those who do not want to pull their fair share of the deployments, they will be able to make the deployment policy fair to all.

— Tech. Sgt. Candace Benson, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

—————

I think it’s ironic that the Air Force has designated July 2009 through July 2010 as the Year of the Air Force Family, considering the cover of the Oct. 12 Air Force Times [“The new reality for thousands of airmen: 12 months deployed, 6 months home”].

Families are already put through difficult times during standard deployments.

— Master Sgt. Rick Lasnier (ret.), Goldsboro, N.C.

GIVE GLOBAL STRIKE 4 STARS

I appreciated Robert F. Dorr’s column [“Nuclear mission requires clout,” Oct. 5].

I fully agree that in order to compete with other major air commands on so many issues, the commander of the new Global Strike Command should be a four-star general.

Global Strike Command should also be commanded by a rated officer because it has bombers.

— Lt. Col. Russ Davis (ret.), McLean, Va.

ESSAY TELLS HALF THE STORY

Most senior officers on active duty disagree with Col. Om Prakash’s essay in favor of allowing open homosexuals to serve [“Essay in DoD journal makes case for openly gay troops,” Oct. 12]. But in today’s politically correct climate, few are willing to speak out and risk their careers.

As the Air Force Times article noted, the essay’s appearance in the Joint Force Quarterly does not mean that the military agrees with his conclusions. I take issue with the article’s statement that 12,500 people have been discharged for being homosexual since 1994, without putting that number into context.

Ninety-five percent of those discharged for being gay or lesbian were self-referrals, meaning they told their command their sexual orientation knowing they would receive an honorable discharge.

Also, those 12,500 were discharged during a 16-year period. Based on about 2.3 million active-duty personnel and reservists in the U.S. military, that number represents less than one-tenth of 1 percent for any of those 16 years.

The bottom line is that discharging homosexuals under the current 1993 law, when put in context, is not a significant drain on military readiness. On the other hand, there are those who predict that if the law is changed to allow open gays to serve, it would cause a significant number of people not to enlist or re-enlist.

— Navy Cmdr. Wayne L. Johnson (ret.), Alexandria, Va.

AIRMEN DESERVE ANSWERS

Eight generals were asked to give an answer to a direct question [“If you had one more dollar, where would you spend it?” Oct. 5]. Seven generals gave a straight answer, and one general gave no answer at all.

I wonder if Gen. Roger A. Brady took classes that teach some senior leaders how to evade questions that might make them take a stand on something. The question specifically asked what he would do with an extra dollar, not for insight on his speculation that he would never get the dollar.

He is in command of a lot of young people who are putting their lives on the line every day. He should stop giving the corporate answer when talking to the guys who work for him and provide an answer that lets the team know what he really believes.

Some day a junior officer who I might have worked with a decade ago will assume a leadership position, and I would like to think he won’t knuckle under the pressure with an answer like Gen. Brady’s.

— Master Sgt. Wayne Gustison (ret.), Byron, N.Y.