Posted on 01/13/2007 12:27:16 AM PST by 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.
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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
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"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.
Some of it is genetics on how easily your body develops during physical training. But to have well defined abs show like that, you have to have a extremely low body fat level and work out like crazy. Tons of cardio. Tons of ab exercises.
She can drive my bus!
All abs and no brains....sounds like a real winner to me! (sarc)
Speaking of genes and women, wouldn't it be a greater sign of patriotism to settle down and have 5 or 6 kids rather than expose yourself to danger in the military? Darwin was critical of the role of standing armies in regards to exposing generally the healthiest males to death rather than being able to reproduce -- he'd certainly have had a lot of criticism for letting such women sign up for the military.
You heard that ZZ Top song as well?
She looks well equipped to face any probe from either direction.....
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.
Hard to say whose judgement was poor here. Nobody in the AF even thought of recruiting office? Shameful waste of training and uh, talent.
You could put an eye out with that.
My thoughts exactly ;-)
Not touching that headline with a ten foot probe.
I'm sure she's been well probed already, but you know how thorough the navy likes to be. She'll be probed like she's never been probed before. They won't miss anything.
Quite the set of MK 84's she's got........
How is she a slut? She's married with kids. She's just not ashamed of her body- nor should she be. This doesn't make one a slut.
I have always found our American attitude towards the human body totally baffling. We absolutely worship violence but will cover up a statue with a cloth if it is a nude statue. It's completely bizarre.
Maybe to the air force but I fail to see how she is a disgrace to her family. Can you explain that one?
Never mind the probe. On to the discipline.
Then the probe.
Well you may be retired Air Force, but that doesn't give you the right to breezily dismiss the Force as a second-class branch of the military, bud. SOME of us busted our humps in the Air Force.....and it was not exactly an easy ride.
Personally, it would mean my mom had lost a lot of weight and I would be very happy for her.
I think the human body is the most beautiful thing in the world. I don't see any reason at all to be ashamed of it. I have myself posed nude for photographers (once outdoors with spectators) and art students. Nothing at all wrong with it and I'm not ashamed at all. I wouldn't be ashamed if my mother did it or any other members of my family.
Why would I be?
;-)
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