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Air Force Times letters

The Military Officers Association of America sponsored a symposium to discuss the all- voluntary manning of our military. Based on what I read, the generals and bureaucrats seem to be doing a lot of hand wringing, suggesting dollars as the solution, whining about certain segments of the population shouldering military burdens, saying the public hasn’t done enough, and so on [“Quality of volunteer force deteriorating, McCaffrey says,” Nov. 27]. Except for the dollar thrust, panelists at the symposium described intangible solutions that have little to no hope.

The answer to sustaining our force, according to one panelist, is to increase pay, create larger bonuses and have more promotions — faster. It is interesting there was no serious discussion about combining compulsory service (a draft) and a volunteer force, which would solve the majority of problems facing our military and our society, in general. After reading their discussion points, it appears some panelists want compulsory service but are afraid to say it.

They must acknowledge the need if they want a solution that doesn’t bankrupt America and will provide the 18- and 19-year-old fighters the military needs.

Why not discuss a draft? Has the American public been given the opportunity to make their thoughts known? Has America heard the pros and cons of young citizens serving their nation? No, because politicians don’t have the guts to do the right thing for America.

Leaders don’t have the courage to discuss and debate the benefits to our nation’s security, society and culture that a period of service to our nation would produce. America should activate the Selective Service system for young men and women. It’s beyond time that all Americans start shouldering the burden.

Air Force Times did a great job of giving the bird’s-eye view of the Pacific theater, its geographic expanse and the political and military threats [“Pacific power,” Nov. 13]. There was one omission, however. Although the desire for permanent tankers in Guam is mentioned, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission’s language adds four KC-135s to the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing, and an active associate KC-135 unit under the 15th Airlift Wing around 2011.

When the Air Corps separated from the Army and put on the blue suit, the mental separation was valid at the time. It is no longer useful to pretend that, decades into the future, we’ll see Air Force human resources employed in neat compounds well to the rear. It is no longer useful to think of “blue suit” and “green suit” service.

What does it cost for Air Force training sites to reinvent the wheel of basic military training that provides survival skills for ground combat? What does it cost to move people to way stops en route to combat theaters for special combat preparation?

The base realignments just passed were too limited in scope. Consolidate all basic military training and extend it at Army sites for whatever blue suit tint that is wished. Save dollars and time in travel, and inculcate the warrior ethos in all military recruit training.

I have watched with rising concern as the Pentagon fritters away huge amounts of cash in research and development for a replacement for the aging KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft. In the process, a senior Defense Department civilian went to prison for her part in the whole fraudulent mess. Why can’t our high-paid “thinkers” in Congress, or across the Potomac River at Air Force Headquarters, take a look at airframes that have proved themselves the world over with commercial airlines?

My proposal is a simple one: We have possibly hundreds of DC-10 commercial aircraft that were retired to commercial aircraft boneyards soon after Sept. 11, 2001. Most of these DC-10s, I am told, have fairly low air miles because they were taken out of service in favor of more fuel-efficient and smaller aircraft. They could be a cost-saving replacement for the KC-135.

The Air Force’s KC-10 Extender was built on the basic DC-10 commercial airframe starting in 1980, so the Pentagon would save billions of dollars with my suggestion. I firmly believe that dozens or hundreds of converted DC-10s, now sitting in boneyards, could be retrofitted with the new advanced refueling probe beneath the tail section. This new probe could handle any advanced fighter aircraft planned for the U.S. or any allied aircraft. The current cargo/baggage area below the passenger deck could be modified to handle the fuel tanks required for in-flight refueling. The current passenger deck area could easily be changed to handle the mesh/metal side bucket seats, as well as cargo space to match existing KC-10s. The converted aircraft could then be re-engined to current Air Force KC-10 standards.

I have no doubt that the cost savings would be dramatic during a time when Congress and the Air Force are trying to cut expenses worldwide. Air Force Times columnist Robert F. Dorr wrote in his column “Flying under the radar,” [Back Talk, Sept. 18] that “the KC-10 has no structural, airframe or engine problems and no reason not to continue flying for another 25 years.”

Please save my tax money. Let’s use a dependable airframe that has proven itself since the 1980s.

We are constantly told to support our troops, as we should. Yet over Thanksgiving, not one high-level Bush administration official chose to visit them in Iraq to tell them thanks on behalf of the American people.

Big Brother, aka the Pentagon, has quietly scrapped Defense Directive 1400.33, “Employment and Volunteer Work of Spouses of Military Personnel,” dated Feb. 10, 1988, which protected spouses from being pressured in their employment decisions by their husbands’ superiors [“Pentagon scraps rule on working spouses,” Dec. 4].

So now it is back to the status quo, permitting someone other than spouses to decide for them whether to work or not for pay.

The Pentagon gave as its reason for deleting this protective order that it was “obsolete” because it was more than 15 years old. By that silly logic, we could do away with habeas corpus, due process, freedom of speech or any number of rights that protect ordinary citizens from a powerful state. They are much older than l5 years.

Times have changed. Military wives refuse to allow Big Brother at the Pentagon to tell them that they have permission to have a career if they wish, and they refuse to let the meddlesome Pentagon decide where or how they live.

I was relieved to see the article about “anticipatory grief” [“Web, parties nudge spouses into support,” Oct. 30].

No one can describe the feeling of grief that occurs when a loved one is in harm’s way.

At one point in the deployment, several days passed without my spouse contacting me, which was unusual for him at the time.

When I woke up and looked at the clock, all I could think was that I needed to get up early, get dressed and get myself ready — so that I would be presentable — for that knock at the door.

Having heard that most notifications are done in the morning, I waited and watched the clock until well after 11 a.m., afraid to leave the house and possibly miss any news that might come to my door. I straightened the living room, made some tea and straightened his photo.

I wanted to seem in control and prepared for company. It is a surreal feeling.

Seeing any news of “a soldier” hurt or killed was like hearing the news that it “was probably” (in my mind) my own.

It has taken time to get used to, and over, some of these terrible thoughts. Each day that went by was better and less terrifying, even though there is still some sadness and concern.

What you are feeling is normal, and you are not alone.

If this feeling of pending doom takes over your life and keeps you from maintaining normal activities, please seek counseling.

I want to thank the military for continuing to show solidarity with the Sept. 11 community, especially as dozens of veterans were among those killed Sept. 11, 2001.

Now that human remains continue to be discovered at the site, I thank those from our military who have asked that specially trained personnel from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command be brought in to assist in locating and identifying the additional human remains found at the World Trade Center site and surrounding environs.

Thank you for Air Force Times’ in-depth report on the Medal of Honor recently awarded to Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham [“Posthumous honor,” Nov. 27]. The background reporting on this young Marine and the description of the heroic actions that earned him our nation’s highest award for battlefield heroism were inspiring.

Not so inspiring is the fact that the Medal of Honor for this hero is only the second awarded in the war on terrorism. After five years of combat in the Afghanistan-Iraq theater, it is baffling that only two Medals of Honor have been awarded to our war heroes. In contrast, there were 245 Medal of Honor recipients during the Vietnam War, and 27 Medals of Honor were awarded for the single World War II battle of Iwo Jima.

It is deplorable that in a war on terrorism touted by our president as being for such a noble cause, we are so remiss in honoring what surely must be numerous instances of “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life,” as the citation for the Medal of Honor reads. Although the article mentions that two other Iraq war Marines have reportedly been nominated, posthumously, for the Medal of Honor, this is still woefully inadequate.

Let’s hope that the recent changes in Congress and at the Defense Department will result in better, more frequent and timely recognition of our heroes.

What now, since the secretary of defense has resigned?

Over the past three years, soldiers and Americans have been afraid to say that they are against the war because of the fear of being viewed as un-American or supporting terrorism.

Since the beginning of the war, when a soldier opposed it, it’s been a problem — but not when a soldier supported the Bush administration or the war.

I’m not saying I oppose or support the war; all I am saying is, respect both opinions of soldiers.