Air Force Academy Blamed for Sex Scandal

Associated Press ^ | December 7, 2004 | John Lumpkin

[af_vet_rr]

Even college educated officers-in training in military academies can succumb to temptations of Susie in the next bunk (your off the base point is silly and irrelevant-- I am talking about men and women in dorms, tents or trenches).

I was talking about men and women in dorms as well - calling it silly and irrelevant doesn't make it not true. Either there are going to be problems on campus or base, or there are going to be problems off base. The fact is, those who would "succumb to temptation" either way should be punished very harshly, such that others will think twice.

As it stands, the mainstream culture in this country has embraced adultery, premarital sex, promiscuous sex, etc., (over the last 10 years we've had a President of the United States, as well as Generals in the military, lie, abuse their positions for sex, commit adultery, etc. and get off with nothing more than a slap on the hand, if that). Many parents have either passed this down, or have not raised their children right, or they let the TV raise their kids.

As a result, unless we are willing to come down on it hard in the military, it won't go away, no matter how much you try to seperate the two sexes.

I do not advocate removing women from the military entirely, just from serving with men in close quarters, namely in combat as you seem to want.

I have never said women should be in combat, however I would say set the bar for combat positions really high in the physical area, such that those in combat positions have confidence that anybody who can pass the requirements can perform under combat conditions. That would weed out most women, as well as more than a few men. There would be women who passed the requirements - we've all known a few women who could whup a guy their age and size, but if the troops had confidence they could be carried/pulled to safety, and that they could carry their own loads, there wouldn't be any debate.

My daughter can handle a C-17 - I don't expect her to handle an F-16 under combat conditions, and she doesn't expect to either. Not to say she wouldn't turn it down if it was offered to her - the Air Force and Navy are rapidly heading down that road, for better or for worse, but she's not going to seek it out like some women are.

[heye2monn]

To your first point: I think the American public can understand that military act more like civilians when off base (especially when off-duty) -- for better or for worse. But what the average American might not understand is such aggressively dumb policies as putting Lieutenant Bill and Seaman Susie together on the same Love Boat, formerly known as a Navy ship.

As for your second point: I'm glad you don't want women in combat, either.