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Letters

Inappropriate piercings

According to Army Regulation 670-1 (Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia), Body piercing: “When on any Army installation or other places under Army control, soldiers may not attach, affix or display objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation to or through the skin while they are in uniform, in civilian clothes on duty, or in civilian clothes off duty (this includes earrings for male soldiers).

However, Spc. Jed Martin, in the June 4 issue of Army Times, doesn’t appear to understand that policy [“He’s a vegan cutie,” Frontlines]. From his picture, one would deduce that he is in an Army barracks room, given the furniture behind him in the picture. If so, he is in violation of the above-mentioned policy because he has an earring device in each ear and a piercing in his lip.

When are we going to stop glorifying the lack of discipline of soldiers in today’s Army? To even put this picture in Army Times is a disgrace.

I’m all for soldiers winning stuff, but let’s portray the right image of our troops.

Maj. Robert J. Purvis

Fort Irwin, Calif.

Deploying reserves is fair

Members of the National Guard and Army Reserve constantly request to be treated as equal to the active military.

Except when it comes to deployments. Some feel the equality ends there, according to the June 4 letter under “Help for Guard, reserves,” in which the writer says the component should be exempt from further interventions or deployments.

We all realize the problems in deploying National Guard units. Doing so can hurt those states that are dependent on those units’ capabilities during times of emergency.

Yet the soldiers in those units are sharing equally with active forces in meeting deployment demands. They receive the same medical and pay benefits that active units receive.

We are all paid by the same entity and are governed by that entity. If the governors of the states that seek to change any amendments or policies have their states pay the salaries, medical, dental, education, equipment costs and life insurance of these personnel and units, I’m sure that would turn the scales in favor of keeping those units at home.

Until that happens, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will have to do the job it is intended to do in case of emergency.

The National Guard and the reserves are exactly what their names state. By guarding the nation and filling in the needs of the active Army, they are performing that function as intended.

Sgt. 1st Class Larry E. Lilly

Fort Hood, Texas

U.S. needs foreign legion

To secure a system of accountability in immigration reform, I have a suggestion for the U.S. government: Every man or woman ages 18 to 42 who can pass a background check and can physically handle military service should be granted U.S. citizenship after serving for a minimum of six years.

The French were successful with their foreign legion. Why doesn’t the U.S. have its own foreign legion? If immigrants want to use our social services, public education and hospital emergency care, then they must give back by serving our country. This would show their allegiance to our Constitution and laws.

Why rely on the legal citizens in our military when there are 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants here who are not doing their share?

Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Knowles

Aiken, S.C.

Don’t deploy? Don’t teach

I am disgusted by the number of soldiers stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C., who have not been to combat. The Army has drill sergeants who are training combat skills to recruits and they don’t even have combat experience.

With the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, I think we have plenty of combat-experienced NCOs who would love to have that responsibility instead of heading to war for the second or third time. Instead we allow E-5s, E-6s and E-7s to be drill sergeants with no combat time. Send them to Iraq or Afghanistan first.

Then there are the NCOs stationed there who are not drill sergeants; they are E-6 through E-9 and have no combat experience. How do they get promoted after five years of war if they haven’t been in combat? We are sending Navy and Air Force personnel to Iraq to execute convoy and base security.

Some soldiers are on their second or third real NCO development tour. Show me an MOS in the Army that can’t go to war and I will show you an MOS that should not get the same pay and promotions as the real Army soldier.

Sgt. 1st Class James Mixon

Elgin, S.C.

Not smiling in germany

Welcome to the Army in Europe ... now run while you can back to the states to get dental care.

That would make a good, truthful banner at the front gate of Benjamin Franklin Village in Mannheim, Germany.

There is absolutely no good reason to allow the dental clinic to treat family members the way this clinic does. I somehow was able to have my teeth checked in February, but the clinic couldn’t clean my teeth the same day. I had been trying for four months to get a return visit for the cleaning and it’s going to be the Army’s fault when my teeth turn yellow and fall out.

I let the Army have my husband to deploy in Afghanistan and now Iraq, but their clinic can’t see me and my teeth for a 15-minute cleaning? Doesn’t seem fair, does it?

I am sick of poor excuses like “We are short-staffed, we are so busy getting soldiers deployment-ready,” etc. I’ve been told “You can easily get an appointment off post from a German facility.” I do not speak the language, trust a doctor in this country or care to get lost getting to and from my appointment.

BFV could at least have the courtesy to schedule our appointments off post and have a shuttle bus take us to our appointments. This whole situation of being in Europe and not having easily accessible dental care is absurd.

Karyn A. Harnden (civilian)

Mannheim, Germany

End mass memorials

I was appalled to read in Army Times that the Army would actually consider canceling individual memorial services and conducting one mass memorial service every month. It is just mind-boggling.

The fallen soldiers gave the ultimate sacrifice and we as an Army decide that it is too hard to conduct individual memorial services. Did the leadership forget what it means to be a leader? Too much strain on the rear detachment to conduct ceremonies? How about the strain on the troops that are working 18-hour days, seven days a week, in Iraq, placing their lives on the line? Are their sacrifices not worth it anymore?

I think that this is a disgrace to the soldier, his family, friends and loved ones. In a time in which “family” is to be capitalized to show how important it is, the Army just slaps widows in the face. I can guarantee you that if a field-grade officer were to get killed in combat, he would receive an individual memorial service to him and his career. Hey, it’s only some enlisted soldiers and young officers that we are talking about here. We should be used to this double standard by now.

Sgt. 1st Class Craig Szramka

Alexandria, Va.

Hate for ‘Army@Love’

I’m referring to the article about the new comic book, “Army@Love offers dark, bizarre look at future war,” on the Web site.

My husband is an active-duty soldier. I’m in the middle between conservative and liberal. With that said, I was appalled to see “Army@Love” not only on your Web site but in the June 11 issue of Army Times. I feel this magazine is an insult to military spouses and soldiers.

Not only is it degrading and sleazy (unfortunately that sells these days), but very offensive. It’s difficult enough to be separated from our loved ones for roughly 12 to 15 months, hold down the home front, miss holidays and special events and constantly wonder if your spouse is safe or not. This comic book is blatant about soldiers and spouses having torrid affairs on the home front and front lines.

I’m not naive. I know it happens, but it doesn’t need to be thrown in our faces, especially to those who would never even think of doing something like that. I feel it’s a slam toward military families, their soldiers and the war. It exploits the military community as a whole. What a shame.

Jenny Schlosser

Killeen, Texas

Badges? Don’t need ’em

In response to the many letters I have read in the opinion section, I have to say enough is enough. I have an Army Aviation Badge and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge. I wish I never received the latter of the two. I am proud of what I have done for my country, but badges and ribbons mean only one thing to me. I am maxed out for awards promotion points.

I understand that everyone wants a badge and a combat patch, but why does this have to be the sole purpose of being in the Army? Why have people become so obsessed with combat action, infantry or medical badges? Am I the only one who thinks that this is nuts?

I’m reluctant to say this, but half of the time I don’t even pin on my badges, or wear my combat patch. It’s a pain to pin on things every day to the Army Combat Uniform. I know what I have done in the Army, and all of my colleagues do, too, so why do I need to impress someone with badges or ribbons?

Sgt. Bob Evans

Austin, Texas

Contractors give, too

As a proud wife of an Army contractor who is serving in Baghdad, I take objection to the letter by Jennifer Parker [“Contractors profit,” June 4]. I’m not sure who she is taking a potshot at: the contractors, the Army or the franchise groups these “kids” work for when they are recruited?

As to working side by side, they do in fact, work side by side and enjoy, for the most part, a very amiable and good working relationship in the most dangerous part of the world today. They work together as comrades and hold no ill will toward each other. They need each other, in fact, to get the job done.

It sounds nice to say outside contractors make this much money; however, it is far from reality. I know my husband’s pay since August 2005, when he deployed to Iraq, has stayed almost the same, and he is paid in conjunction with Army pay levels.

He does fill one of the top 10 critical job shortages for the Army, but he gets no bonus to go to Iraq and when he comes home, if he doesn’t work on a base (there is none here), he will have to re-enter the civilian job force.

We do not have the benefit of the entire military behind us; it’s just us in support of him there. I have no wives’ club to help me cope. My family is of the same mind-set as Ms. Parker: Why would these guys go to Iraq or Afghanistan and do their part?

He works 12-hour days, seven days a week. He will have no vets hospital to go to if he is injured in Iraq. He will come home to no hero’s welcome. He doesn’t get to wear the uniform and be saluted for his service to his country.

Why does he do it? Because he is from a military family and he could finally do his part this way.

We aren’t getting rich. In fact, we celebrate 30 years of marriage ... and I am on alert 24/7 just like anyone else who has a loved one deployed.

I say let us support one and all who are deployed in harm’s way today and remember all those left behind who wait for them to come home.

Linda J. Johnson, civilian

Sioux Falls, S.D.