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Letters

Definitely not a waste

After reading the article in the Dec. 22 issue [“Wasteful training costs the Air Force $7 million”], I take issue with one of the Air Force Audit Agency’s conclusions.

Their characterization of a First Term Airman Center incentive flight as a wasteful “six-hour courtesy” could not be further from the truth. The point of incentive flights is not to provide a “summer camp” experience to first-term airman, but to give them a firsthand account of the mission they support every day. The flights are routine daily training sorties and the aircraft cargo area is almost always empty, or “space-available.”

Anything short of a comprehensive understanding of one’s mission can breed a me-first mentality that leads to empire-building. In an Air Force where the tempo is high and the resources are low, not providing our youngest airman with a keen since of duty and a mission-first attitude should be considered wasteful.

Maj. Matthew G. Taylor

McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

Let ’em fly

I have recently read articles about Air Force enlisted personnel flying UAVs [“Air apparent: Are enlisted airmen next to pilot UAVs?” Dec. 22]. These articles reminded me of the times I tried to become an Air Force pilot. I was turned down twice because — I don’t have the slightest idea.

I served in the Air Force as an enlisted man for 24 years. I loved the Air Force. It was awful good to me and I appreciate the opportunity to serve with such a wonderful organization and people.

As a young boy on a farm, my strong desire was to be an Air Force pilot. That didn’t happen. However, I was able to fly over 10,000 hours as an enlisted crew member. I flew as a combat information center officer for a number of years and then flew 113 combat missions as an airborne strike controller over northern Laos and Vietnam.

After Vietnam, when I was 41 years old, I obtained my private pilot’s license and went on to receive a commercial license, flight and instrument instructor license and airline transport pilot’s license with multi-engine jet rating.

As an enlisted man I was turned down to become an Air Force pilot, though I believe I could have been among the best. However, at 80 years old, I’m still flying airplanes and enjoying every minute of it. I have gone on to receive a master’s degree in aerospace technology and a doctorate in aerospace business development.

I’m saying all this to make this point: Enlisted men and women have an awful lot to offer the Air Force. They can do a lot more in most cases than we think. I highly recommend that the Air Force take a strong look at giving enlisted personnel a chance to prove to themselves and the Air Force that they have the “right stuff” to become outstanding UAV pilots.

Chief Master Sgt. Davis L. Goodman (ret.)

Burlington, N.C.

Why we need the JCA

As a longtime airlift commander, I must take exception to your recent Back Talk [“At new year, Air Force has problems, promise,” Dec. 29].

Once again, Robert F. Dorr takes aim at scuttling the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft program!

He is advocating the demise of six highly experienced Air National Guard units. I hope that more rational heads make the decision.

JCA contracts are in place and aircraft are being delivered for the Army National Guard to replace tired, worn-out Sherpa and Huron aircraft and to help bolster and fortify the Federal Emergency Management Agency national disaster response capability. JCA aircraft are also slated to replace various models of C-130s in the Air National Guard being retired or redistributed by 2005 Base Realignment and Closure mandates. Other units who have lost or will lose F-16, A-10 and KC-135 aircraft are also slated to get the JCA. C-27Js in those units would provide much needed intra-theater airlift.

If the C-27J program is terminated, those units in Fargo N.D.; Battle Creek, Mich. Windsor Locks/Bradley Field, Conn.; Meridian, Miss.; Mansfield, Ohio; and Baltimore/Martin Field, Md., would have no follow-on mission.

Mr. Dorr seems to be partial to one of those units, the 135th Airlift Squadron, 175th Wing, at Martin Field. In a Back Talk column in the Oct. 27 issue, he argued that C-130Js should be kept at Martin because “it would make no sense to take away this squadron’s planes and break up this superbly functioning team.”

I fully agree with Mr. Dorr’s argument regarding the Baltimore unit. The same arguments apply to the other units I’ve mentioned who have lost or are going to lose their pre-BRAC mission aircraft.

Mr. Dorr should be arguing in support of the C-27J rather than against it. BRAC law mandates the removal of the C-130Js from Baltimore, so, barring legislation that would reverse 2005 BRAC law, those C-130 aircraft will go away. If all those units have no follow-on mission, the talents of thousands of expensively trained airmen will simply be wasted.

Most will not seek positions in ANG or Air Force Reserve units at other locations because of ties to their local communities. Their military obligations will likely be waived and their talents and experience will be lost. That would be a grievous loss to our resource-constrained service.

Brig. Gen. Fred N. Larson (ret.)

Lexington, Ohio

In support of the Legion

I don’t know what Robert F. Dorr’s association with the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars is, but his op-ed in the Dec. 1 issue [“VFW, Legion must modernize in order to thrive,” Backtalk] is very misleading.

I have been a member of the American Legion for fifty-plus years. Our post here in Benbrook, Texas, as well as most posts in Texas, has been smoke-free for the past two years. Our post is made up mostly of Korea, Vietnam and World War II veterans. However, we have several younger male and female veterans from Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. One of our post officers is a female retired Air Force master sergeant.

Mr. Dorr, you ask, “Does prayer really belong in a gathering of veterans?” By all means, yes, prayer does belong in Legion and VFW meetings. Why? Because the American Legion motto is “For God and Country.” I know of no members of the American Legion or the VFW who stay away from post meetings and activities because of the prayers recited by the members.

The dictionary defines “auxiliary” as helping, assisting and helper aid. That is just what the ladies of the auxiliary do. They were not in the military but were or are members of family that were in the military. They are a vital and productive arm of the American Legion.

I thank you for your positive comments about the accomplishments of the American Legion and the VFW, Mr. Dorr. However, you are off base on the rest of your comments. I disagree with your comments, but I agree with your right to say them. That is one of the many things the American Legion and VFW stand for and promote.

Chief Master Sgt. Donald W. Grannan (ret.)

Benbrook, Texas

Religion and the military

The U.S. military just doesn’t get the concept of religious freedom our founding fathers meant for us. They still do Christian prayers at change-of-command ceremonies, still at dining outs; if anyone did that at any other workplace function in the U.S., someone would be shot on the spot.

Why do we think that it is OK for the military to do that? Because I might die serving my country? If I do die, I surely do not want my government’s god to be the last person I was forced to pray to — ironically, before I went off and died protecting my freedom!

If we say all prayers are the same, let everyone have a chance to say what they want to say about their creator at the podium. Oh yeah, that would not work —– you probably would not agree with what I think. And that would make you feel uncomfortable, so that would not be fair.

Get the idea?

Lt. Col. Scott Poppleton (ret.)

Syracuse, N.Y.

Towels save

I enjoyed reading Ken Perrotte’s “Prepare for the worst” article in the Dec. 29 issue.

If there’s a little more room in his survival bag, I’d suggest adding a couple more items — foremost, a towel. Douglas Adams may have had his tongue in his cheek when he extolled the many uses of towels, but I have personally used a towel as a bandage for myself and later as a pillow for someone else in an emergency situation. You can also use it as a blanket; you can cut it up into multiple bandages; in a pinch you can dry yourself with it.

The other item is a roll of toilet paper. The comfort it provides in an extended survival scenario means one less stressor. You can also use it to stop bleeding from small cuts or as a sponge to collect water.

Lt. Col. Christopher Bohn

Hurlburt Field, Fla.