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FLIER’s OUSTER NO SURPRISE

Is the editorial staff really surprised that military members often experience the sting of law and go wanting for justice?

Your commentary on Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach and Col. Michael D. Murphy [“A career undone, unfairly,” June 1] was poignant. Their story is just another chapter within voluminous examples of unjust decisions.

I will not comment on the federal government’s policy on homosexuals serving in the armed forces, but the laws that allow military members to retire after committing flagrant crimes (Uniform Code of Military Justice aside) are despicable.

Master Sgt James Aragon

Bellevue, Neb.

As I read about Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach being faced with a discharge from the Air Force after 18 years of service as an F-15E aviator, I am painfully reminded of the reasons that led to my discharge under the same policy.

I served in the Air Force for seven years and five months. In that time, I served overseas for four years, completed two deployments to the Middle East, worked in precision electronics and flew as a crew member on C-130 aircraft.

The Air Force invested a lot of time and money to train me and prepare me to carry out missions necessary for the safety of America. I was surrounded by great leaders and the very best comrades.

In the midst of this close camaraderie and mutual respect with my fellow airmen, I watched as the military discharged members for being found out as gay or lesbian.

Many followed the law, only to be outed by people from outside the military. After witnessing this trend for seven years, I decided I wasn’t going to chance a 20-year career that may end at 12, 16, 18 or even 19 years, preventing me from receiving a military retirement.

I took my training and experience and went to my commanding officer and said, “I am gay.” Those three words would see that I was discharged 2½ months later after legal paperwork had been submitted, reviewed and signed by the base commander.

Three weeks after separation, I was employed as a defense contractor to the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. I went back to the desert to serve my country with the same people I was told didn’t want me. This time I didn’t need to fear losing my career for being openly gay.

I also learned that as an openly gay contractor, many service members were willing to talk to me about how they wish the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy would end so their friends would stay in and serve alongside them.

The time is now for President Barack Obama to fulfill his campaign pledge to end this discriminatory law that prevents brave men and women from serving their country. It’s time for the president to partner with Congress to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act and get rid of “don’t ask, don’t tell” once and for all.

Former Staff Sgt. Anthony Loverde

Penn Valley, Calif.

New benefits cost money

Your recent editorial and news coverage on proposals to increase compensation for military retirees on disability, military survivors and other people who receive special service-related benefits [“Some promises left out of budget,” “End unfair offfsets,” June 22] do a good job explaining why Democrats and Republicans alike support changing the law.

Unfortunately, your coverage fails to convey the very real challenges that have stymied efforts to fully increase benefits for these beneficiaries.

Contrary to some reports, the House Armed Services Committee cannot pay the $36 billion price tag on these reforms without cuts to other critical programs, such as military retirement or health care benefits for Medicare-eligible retirees. But robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the answer.

We understand that Americans have little patience with the legislative and budgetary obstacles that prevent an overnight fix, but inflammatory rhetoric about broken promises, while failing to offer viable solutions, does nothing to help military retirees and survivors who have sacrificed so much for all of us. If these were easy problems to fix, they would have been taken care of years ago.

Since Democrats took control of Congress in 2007, we have made great strides in providing for retirees and their families by increasing Survivor Benefit Plan payments to reduce the “widow’s tax” and by improving benefits for those affected by concurrent receipt.

In spite of the existing difficulties, we are committed to continuing our efforts, hopefully on a bipartisan basis, to provide the full benefits these groups deserve.

Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.

Chairman House Armed Services Committee

Rep. Susan A. Davis, D-Calif.

ChairwomanHouse Armed Services Military personnel subcommittee

Rep. John M. Spratt Jr., D-S.C.

ChairmanHouse Budget Committee

F-22: A WASTE OF MONEY

From what I understand, the enemy America is fighting has no air force — or any type of air support, for that matter.

So why are we spending money on expensive F-22s?

It is a fighter aircraft that has not seen a dogfight since the war began. The main mission of most aircraft in the area of responsibility is ground support airstrikes or recon, but they can be done with what we currently have in the Air Force.

I wonder why we are buying a new toy instead of using that money on more important things.

Senior Airman Markeis McCray

Houston