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Letters

FIT TO DEPLOY

I think there is a misconception among airmen that we are being asked to be like the Army.

In reality, we need to be in shape — not Army strong, but in shape.

I run 25 miles a week and never do weights. I need to be able to function in high temperatures. I’ve been deployed five times and in each location I had to work long hours in temperatures from 90 to 125 degrees.

Most of the guys I know can lift a lot of weights, but when we have to run, they cannot last long.

I can’t imagine them working during deployments for 12 hours at a time under extreme conditions.

Staff Sgt. Jose M. Santiago

Randolph AFB, Texas

BRING BACK DECALS

The timely base decals article [“Identity crisis,” June 22] is disheartening for at least three reasons:

• The Air Force decision to stop using vehicle ID decals obviously destroyed an intangible but vital morale factor for retirees and probably active-duty members, for whom decals gave a spirit-boosting sense of “identity” among other pride producers.

• Although the future of the Republic does not turn on vehicle decals, a stubbornly adhered-to policy, not joined in or supported by the Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, appears all the more puzzling and poorly thought out. It could be viewed as a classic example of military non-think to many Americans who, in these times, have never experienced military service but often see anti-military media, academic and knee-jerk criticisms of military waste, poor decisions and other negative observations — real or imagined. It’s an image hotly fueled by our current Air Force decal policy.

• Lastly, Air Force decal policymakers apparently failed to totally comprehend these detriments.

Lt. Col. Don M. Gulliford (ret.)

Mercer Island, Wash.

Our leaders decided to do away with the base decals for budgetary and security reasons.

The rationale was that the decals identified vehicles belonging to military and Defense Department civilians and could be a possible target for terrorists.

I’ve yet to read of any flag officers in the Army or Navy or, for that matter, anyone in the Army or Navy being the target of a terrorist attack because of a base decal.

As for the budgetary reasoning, the Army and Navy still issue base decals, and I haven’t read of any weapons programs being cut because of the cost of base decals.

I really miss not having a base decal on my truck. I miss the feeling of belonging it gave me. I miss having my rank insignia displayed next to my decal. I no longer feel part of a select group of warriors.

Maybe these are just the silly feelings of an old retired guy, but I really want my decal back. If cost is truly a factor, I (and I’m sure many retirees would agree me) would gladly pay a fee for my decal.

Chief Master Sgt. Paul D. Bocconcelli (ret.)

Peoria, Ariz.

EROSION OF LEADERSHIP

The reluctance of the government, Defense Department and the military hierarchy to defend Col. Joseph Romano for doing his job [“Lackland col. faces trial in Italian rendition case,” June 15] is symptomatic of the one-way street that exists in Washington.

For as long as I can remember, the Beltway boys have been taking advantage of the U.S. service member while hiding behind their desks.

I enlisted at 17 in 1960 and was naive enough to drink the Kool-Aid . I was told there would be free medical care for life, etc., ad nauseam. I bought it, along with thousands of others.

I put in more than 24 years, including five as a first sergeant and the last few as a chief. Once I retired, I still took pride in my Air Force and gladly worked with local recruiters, helping them find fresh talent for the ranks.

Today, there’s no way I could recommend a military career to any young person. After seeing first-hand how we’ve been used and abused by our leaders to foster their personal agendas, I’m ashamed of my country’s government. VA and retirement benefits have been butchered and diluted; they’ve made the systems impossibly difficult to navigate, causing many to give up on securing their deserved benefits.

Now the Defense Department — the very entity that should be a champion of the service member — keeps pushing for increasing the fees for coverage, prescriptions, etc., while reducing benefits.

Today’s service members are not stupid. They will quickly see through the Washington smoke and mirrors and opt for civilian life once their tours are up. It’s unbelievably demoralizing to be risking your life for bureaucrats who are sabotaging you at every turn.

We saw it in the Vietnam era, and they’ll see it in their own time. Then, where will our beloved country be?

Col. Romano, for what it’s worth, you have my admiration and support. What about you, Washington?

Chief Master Sgt. Ron Godbout (ret.)

Northfield, N.H.