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Posted : Wednesday Apr 15, 2009 20:55:38 EDT

Col. Michael D. Murphy: Disbarred JAG convicted at trial

I share in the disgust of this no-punishment court-martial, but before we get up in arms about it, let’s not forget that the guy now has a federal conviction and since he was subject to more than one year in prison, that makes it a felony. Being a federal felon doesn’t amount to no punishment in my book, he has to live with that moniker for the rest of his life. Albeit while collecting his pension. But then the SECAF could downgrade him like happened to [Maj. Gen. Thomas] Fiscus, but he’s still collecting a check every month. Now if this were a jr. enlisted member, he’d be serving a 10-year sentence in Siberia.

Why wasn’t his disbarrment discovered during the security investigation for his White House job? That should bother some people immensely.

Dignified transfer or burdensome task?

I was quite shocked when I saw this on the news, that military members in the U.S. (outside of the war zone) were performing this task in ABUs versus service dress. Now that the public has a view to the process, you would think service dress would be appropriate.

For this stage of the process, I believe ABUs are appropriate. This is a transfer of remains, not a formal service. For the funeral service, then I can see service dress.

I’ve performed this very same honor a couple times during a deployment I just returned from. Do not confuse a casket transfer with military honors at a funeral. Most of the time, the caskets are being brought out the back end of a C-130 with a slick ramp in the AOR. So I agree, let’s not get lost in the details.

BTZ winners are a joke?

Recently our BTZ winners had at least obtained a bachelor’s degree, probably swept some old ladies house and marched in a parade. Never deployed, never went TDY and may not even know their jobs as well as who they were competing against. Its a joke! I have seen top notch airmen that have been deployed doing the job for 80 percent of this year not get BTZ. How do you tell a guy to bust his ass, be the best at his job, fully dedicate himself to the needs of the Air Force, this person does so, then loses to Joe College Class taker that has never deployed or been TDY? Somewhere along the way, a maintainer that everyone respects as absolutely excellent in every aspect of the job, loses out to a degree. What a joke. Flat out highway robbery. Spare me with the “total package” BS. If you are not able to deploy and when you do, don’t know your job as well as whatever you have that degree in, how are you a “total package”?

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What should airmen wear when they transfer remains?

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