Here's a curious story that we've been debating in the department -- so I thought I'd see what the blog world thinks.
Read the story, but the brief is this: A female SSgt who is a TI for BMT posed naked for a nationally published magazine (Playboy). The debate takes two sides (at least so far in our dept here):
One sides agrees that what she did was stupid (a bad judgment call), but in no way "wrong" (ethically, anyway) or something deserving of being reprimanded. This side argues that there was no specific violation of the UCMJ that occured and so there is nothing to do here(although the JAG's could try to envoke the "Good Order & Discipline" catch-all against her if they really wanted... and it looks like they may).
The other position agrees that it was of course unwise (a bad call), but also that it was in some sense wrong. Forget for a moment arguments for or against the inherent ethical standing of pornography -- that's a different debate (for obviously, if one finds posing for pornography under any circumstance to being morally wrong, this there is no debate here). The question here is does her being an NCO who is routinely in charge of brand new airmen in basic training somehow make this act particularly different than if she were a civilian? This position argues that it does and significantly so.
A good way to approach your answer to the question is what would you do (specifically) if you were her commander? Possible answers I've heard range from nothing, to an LOC, to an LOR, all the way to court-marshall. Tell me what you'd do and then justify it.
What do you think?
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8 comments:
Bad call indeed. I think it does fall under the "Good Order and Discipline" catch-all because think about it, how much respect could a new airman (or any subordinate or superior for that matter) have when they've seen their superior/subordinate purposefully and remorselessly naked?
As her commander, I would go no less than an LOR, but possibly up to Court Martial. I am taking into account that since LOCs, LORs, etc have previously been handed out like candy here at USAFA, our view of these types of punishments are somewhat distorted. I think this is a very serious issue for good order and discipline.
I totally agree that this was a bad call. In addition, to add to the story, a good friend of mine worked with this particular TI down in Lackland this summer, and when we were out last weekend, he proceeded to buy the magazine so he could see her.
As a new airman, I Imagine that it would be extremely hard to take orders from someone you'd seen in a magazine, and neither she, nor anyone, should be naïve enough to think that the new basic’s won’t recognize her. She undermined her own authority. By doing this, she made not only her job more challenging, but her commanders job harder as well.
As her commander, I would punish her using “non-judicial punishment for unprofessional association with the military.” That would probably result in an LOR or Article 15. That may seem harsh, but as a military member, she is held to a higher standard. I would also confer with base legal before taking any action.
As a female cadet at the Air Force Academy, it pisses me off because it makes women in the military look bad. Most women work extremely hard to get where they are, and it only takes a few mistakes of a few women to reflect poorly on military women as a whole. I also can’t believe that she would voluntarily give up the authority she worked so hard to gain.
The major problem with this whole ordeal comes down to one thing: The Uniform and all it represents.
The uniform that you and I put on everyday is a symbol. It represents a noble profession, it represents the United States and it represents the other thousands of soldiers who wear it along side of you and me everyday.
I have no problem with people who choose to pose nude for magazines etc... it is their body after all. But, the problem here is who this women is. She chose the military and we all know that being in the military means giving up a part of yourself for the good of others, may it be a civilian or another military member. This life isn't just ours anymore, it all of ours, its something we all give up in order to be successful in what we do, it something i would and many others would give up for another brother or sister in arms.
She is a representative of you and me, of the United States, of the noble profession of arms and she chose to disgrace what we all have worked so hard for. I have heard that she wears our uniform in the layout - many people see pornography as disgusting and loathful and to use our uniform in the same context is like a smack in the face for all those who have worn or do wear it.
As her commander, an LOR is appropriate but more importantly, i would order her to counseling sessions with people from all over the air force, from the airmen to the officers. I would want her to realize what it means to wear the uniform and see who wears it alongside of her. I would want her to realize that not only does she represent this nation but each and everyone of us as well...
She is no longer independent, she is a part of a team and when you make decisions, the outcome affects that team.
As members of the United States military, we are often perceived by the overall population as prescribing to a higher moral obligation/calling/code of ethics. I believe that the MTI compromised no large "overarching" moral compass or debate, but rather the subtle, yet important values of professionalism and devotion to duty. Having served with the MTI Corps this past summer, I have seen the deep impact that these individuals have on our airmen. They are probably the most "model" or poster-child members of the Air Force in regards to their appearance, behavior, and dedication to long hours of hard work. By posing for Playboy, this MTI compromised the values so often associated with these prominent leaders. As a commander, I must look at this from several angles. A lack of professionalism. A lack of proper work authority (I am presuming that she did not submit the necessary paperwork to earn money outside of the Air Force). As only officers can be afforded Conduct Unbecoming, I would reccommend a LOR and removal from the MTI Corps indefinitely. Ultimately, I might seek an administrative discharge, due to the future implications that could develop at her future bases. These implications could lead to a breakdown in the good morale and discipline of our force, a fact I find ethically unacceptable.
I agree that it might have been a bad call as far as possibly tainting the image of the air force and being prejudicial to good order and discipline. I do not feel as though there are any moral or ethical questions that need to be raised about her posing for Playboy. I think beyond a boubt that some type of disciplinary action is in order however.
I do believe that this action would be a bad call on behalf of any airman in the airforce. Although the fact that she is a TI and the training or new recruits lies in her hands makes this slightly more serious. As an airman or a basic recruit it would be greatly detrimental to the amount of respect that you would hold for the person in question.
As her commander I would think that although good order and discipline may be in question, there is no UCMJ violation per se. I would not issure more that an LOA or LOR, and discuss possible implications of future actions that may be similar.
While there might not be anything that says specifically that she cant pose nude in PB, it's definately a narrow minded idea for her to do it. Did she think that the AF wouldn't care about it? Or did she know her authority as a military trainer would be erased forever? If she just took a step back and gave it more than two seconds thought, she would have chosen the rational thing and not done it. So why did she? Maybe she's trying to bring attention to herself? It's been done before. Or maybe she's sick of her job and needed a change. Who knows what she was thinking, because in the end, it's not about what she thinks, it's about what the AF will do to her, and I can be sure she's not going to yelling at any more trainees any time soon.
Was this just unwise or was it also morally wrong? Looking at this situation from a consequentialist ethical theory, the result determines the morality. With this assumption, we must look at the outcome of her actions which are that her subordinates have lost respect for her and her effectiveness as a leader has collapsed. Therefore, her actions hurt the professionalism of Basic Training, which in turn degraded the Air Force as a whole. Also, with the understanding that the Air Force is in place to protect American society, by hurting the effectiveness of the Air Force she has subsequently hurt society as a whole with the end result of her actions. Therefore, her action is morally wrong, but as her commander, I could only prosecute based on her violation of the UCMJ. Therefore, I would charge her for the violation of “good order and discipline” and propose an LOR in addition to moving her to a different base and changing her AFSC if at all possible.
Certainly this was wrong for her to do. It is especially wrong because she was wearing the uniform and representing the military. Even if she didn't wear the uniform and did not mention that she was in the military it would still be wrong. The reason being that there is a chance somebody would see her picture and recognize her. We in the military are held to a higher standard and posing in PB clearly undermines her authority. If she wanted to pose in PB, then leave the military and do it as a civilian.
I would definitely give her some negative paperwork and probably reassign her to another job because she could no longer hold good order and discipline with her coworkers and especially the basics.
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