Air Force Strips Playboy’s Drill Sergeant Of Her Stripes
Now a former Staff Sgt. in the U.S. Air Force, Michelle Manhart has been demoted for appearing in a six page Playboy spread. The issue hit newsstands back in January and Manhart was immediately relieved of her duties pending an investigation. On Wednesday, she was removed from active duty and demoted to a senior airman. Manhart a 30 year old mother of two, was photographed both partially and fully nude, in uniform, holding weapons and yelling. The spreads title was "Tough Love".
Manhart says she is "disappointed in our system" and that "They went to far with it." Currently her status is up in the air. Apparently, having been removed from extended active duty, she's returned to National Guard status. There is no word on whether the military will seek to formally discahrge her for conduct. So here's the question.
Manhart says the military's whole issue is because she was pictured wearing her uniform. Ok, that might be a problem but would it still be an issue if she had worn a costume uniform or something else. Is the issue the fact that a soldier appeared in the magazine or the fact the uniform appeared in the magazine? What do you think, is the military's action sufficient, did they go overboard about the whole thing or should they take more significant action?
Comment by Katelyn on 15 February 2007:
I was in the army, and we were told on the first day of basic training that we absolutely could not do such things. Uniform or no, you don’t have all the rights a normal citizen does when you’re in the armed forces. You have to abide by the UCMJ, and you signed a contract saying you’ll do so.
Comment by Jeremy Hobbs on 26 June 2007:
I think it’d wrong of someone in authority to behave in that matter. Women fought hard for equal rights in the military, fought against ideas such as this; a woman soldier being a seen as a sexual distraction. I say she was asking for it.