Playboy airwoman relieved of duty

BBC ^ | 13 January 2007 | BBC

[csvset]

A US Air Force sergeant who appears nude in the latest edition of Playboy magazine has been stood down from duties as an investigation begins.

Michelle Manhart, 30, is pictured in a range of poses, some while wearing uniform and striking a military pose, others while stripped naked.

The air force said in a statement her actions "does not meet the high standards we expect of our airmen".

Ms Manhart said she did not expect to be disciplined and defended the photos.

Ms Manhart, who is married with two children, appears in the February issue of Playboy's US edition.

In a six-page spread she is photographed in camouflage uniform shouting and holding weapons under the headline "Tough Love".

Other pictures are more explicit.

Dismay

She defended her decision to pose for the magazine, pointing out that she works in training air force recruits and has served her country since 1994.

			They picked me to train these individuals so if they elect to say I don't have [integrity] then that's their opinion Michelle Manhart

"Of what I did, nothing is wrong, so I didn't anticipate anything, of course," she told the Associated Press.

"I didn't do anything wrong, so I didn't think it would be a major issue.

"They picked me to train these individuals so if they elect to say I don't have [integrity] then that's their opinion."

Oscar Balladares, a spokesman for Lackland Air Force Base, denounced her actions in a statement.

"This staff sergeant's alleged action does not meet the high standards we expect of our airmen, nor does it comply with the Air Force's core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence in all we do.

"It is not representative of the many thousands of outstanding airmen who serve in the US Air Force today."

A Playboy spokeswoman said two serving women have posed nude in the past, both from the navy.

One was discharged a few months early in June 2000, while the first model was honourably discharged in 1998.

[Grut]

Arggh. Sargeant = sergeant.

[RightOnline]

I spent a third of my life in the AF living underground, ready to go to nuclear war in what was guaranteed to be a suicide mission (called "Alert"; no families, no going home, no 9 to 5). When I wasn't doing that, I was flying at over 500mph (ground speed) refueling very large aircraft flying mere feet away from me.

Go do that for some years and tell me how easy it is, pal.

Ground pounders who chest-thump because they slogged through mud and carried a gun who look down their noses at those in uniform in other branches just turn my stomach.

[beyond the sea]

I hardly consider myself "sexy" by any means, but honestly, did this girl consider the feelings of her husband and children? I could never consider doing what she did for any amount of money. I see it as being no better than a prostitute. She's a common skank.

Get over it. You've said about the same thing numerous times on this thread. It's easy to see why.

By the way, have you seen this young woman interviewed? I bet not. She's a very intelligent and rational girl.

[beyond the sea]

Maybe that is because she isn't an airman, but a woman and acts like a woman not a man. The services should get a clue and stop trying to be so PC.

Well said.

[sgtbono2002]

She has been in the military for 12 years. Thats a long way toward retirement. Too bad she is about to lose that for a few bucks Heff offered her to pose.

I dont wuite understand how a supposedly intelligent woman could not have foreseen the Air Force objecting to seeing one of their Sgts. in the nude. I would think that getting respect from subordinates who carry a nude photo of their Non-com in their pocket would be a little tough.

Looking at the picture she should have joined the infantry the weight of the equipment in her pack would have been offset by the weight of the equipment on her chest.

Great looking MILF

[FreedomPoster]

Which is just brain dead, if not.

Pretty soon, you won't be able to get a beer at the O-club or NCO club, either.

[beyond the sea]

I think the human body is the most beautiful thing in the world.

Humans sure can be beautiful but I prefer black leopards and cougars. Now, there are bodies.

;-)

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

A 12 year E-5

Damn, rank must be tough in the Air Farce these days.

[killjoy]

Ground pounders who chest-thump because they slogged through mud and carried a gun who look down their noses at those in uniform in other branches just turn my stomach.

Getting mad at a Marine for lack of tact is sort of like... well... trying to explain to a Marine that two o'clock is when Mickey's big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is... ;)

[Arrowhead1952]

Here is another thread (AP article) with more pictures.

Sergeant in Trouble for Playboy Photos

[beyond the sea]

I really don't know what the AF is upset about... does it think its discipline is so fragile that pictures of a nekkid sargeant can harm it? Idiots.

Agreed.

[RightOnline]

True.....but I've always shown great respect for the other branches. Unlike this idiot, I know how important the missions of ALL the various branches are to our national security. Let that sumbitch go to combat without airpower overhead these days and let's hear how pussified the AF is.

[beyond the sea]

I saw the interview too. She is very impressive in many ways............ she was very calm and reasoned.

This girl is fine with me!

[ops33]

You are correct. The only way a Dishonorable Discharge can be given is through a General Courts-Martial.

[beyond the sea]

The girl has a very nice smile on that thread.

[stacytec]

I'm disgusted at all the whiners on this board who call her a whole ,slut and a disgrace. Sounds like envy to me. And the idea of the military being a sanctum of morality is absurd. If you want to see loose morals, visit a bar near a base.

[DocH]

Reading skills...

Notice I said that there ARE "a very few MOS's" in the Air Force that DO relate to actual military duty, with the hardships and sacrifices that entails. Maybe you were in one of them, pal.

[AndyJackson]

As a retired Navy O-6 I can tell you that discipline and morale among the ranks will not be impaired by these off-duty activities. The problem is in the hermetic environment of the Pentagon where one flag officer can't take a ribbing from those in his rival service.

These prudish attitudes towards the human body just demonstrate the Talibanish attitude of the puritanical component of what passes for too large a piece of so-called modern American conservatism. It is not for nothing that the British cheer that they expelled the puritans. My British Naval mess colleagues enjoyed poking a finger in our eyes by pointedly raising a toast in their wardrooms knowing that in our own dry wardrooms we could not return the hospitality. It is all quite embarrassing really.

Whanna know why the pubbies lost the last election. Sooner or later the accumulated weight of all of this just gets to be too much.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

But she does have very large frontal lobes.

One might say that they are unnaturally large,

[sayfer bullets]