Update: General Welsh announced the Mustache March winners.  Retired Naval officer Sara Zak published her own commentary in the Air Force Times, calling it all a “setback for AF’s strong women.”  US Air Force Major Deirdre Gurry begged to differ in her Air Force Times column, saying she’s “proud to say that since World War II women have been invited to join” the military “boys’ club.”

Besides the Air Force Times letter written by the disgruntled female officer, it seems the attempt at a little fun by Air Force Chief of Staff General

Mark Welsh generated some grief as well — including a concerted effort to get him fired:

Retired Navy Commander Sara Zak [sent] a complaint to the Air Force inspector general’s office, she asked that Welsh step down and rescind the challenge, saying the activity was “contrary to his Chief of Staff of the Air Force message to airmen he issued in January, [that] it perpetuated an environment conducive to sexual harassment, and that the Air Force should acknowledge [that] traditions that denigrate or fail to show proper respect to all airmen will not be accepted as part of the Air Force culture.”

Zak — whose retired Navy status makes her interest unclear — was pretty much told to pound sand, so she tried every other avenue she could think of: 

Frustrated, Zak called other offices — among them, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, and the Defense Advisory Committee to Women in the Services.

In the end, it seems she tried to exhaust the military complaint systems — but was rebuffed.

While a few bases have reported on the end of the good-natured fun, Mustache March isn’t technically over. The Stars and Stripes reported on a few of the Base Wing “winners” — and General Welsh did promise to pick and “honor” an Air Force-level winner.

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