Tag Archives: air force

President Obama Almost Joins Mustache March

The Christian Post quoted President Obama making a remark about wanting to don a fake mustache to tour Israel incognito.

In an interview taped at the White House earlier this week, the president said, “Sometimes I have this fantasy that I can put on a disguise, wear a fake mustache and I can wander through Tel Aviv and go to a bar and have a conversation.”

Admittedly, it has nothing to do with the fighter pilot tradition of Mustache March (which is virtually officially recognized by the Air Force), but the timing is right.

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Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Join Military Leaders on Tours

Warning: This official US Navy photo may be considered offensive in some US Air Force units…
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Abbate

An official DoD article notes the continuing tradition of the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders taking part in USO tours:

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have partnered with the USO for the last 34 years…

Two cheerleaders…[are] currently on a USO overseas Read more

Homosexual Army Soldier Campaigns for Marriage Inequality

US Army Reservist Major Stephen Snyder-Hill made waves when he “came out” to the world by asking the Republican Presidential candidates if they would work to “circumvent the progress” of the repeal of DADT.  His question was booed by some in the audience.  Now, Snyder is co-chairing a political “steering committee” to change the status of marriage in Ohio:

Leaders of pro-gay-marriage group FreedomOhio said Friday that Columbus resident Stephen Snyder-Hill will help lead outreach efforts…FreedomOhio wants to overturn the 2004 state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Snyder’s position is notable because he is constantly referred to as the “gay soldier” and by his military rank and branch of service — while he simultaneously advocates for a political cause.  DoDD 1344.10, which governs the political activities Read more

Answering Michael Weinstein: Why It Matters

An advocate of Michael Weinstein’s MRFF recently said [emphasis added]:

Consider the fact…General Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, responded personally and immediately to Mikey Weinstein.

If the issue were not legitimate…I rather doubt General Walsh [sic] would have bothered. Of course, that’s why he’s a general…

Rightly or wrongly, when Michael Weinstein is given special access to military leaders, it appears to grant credibility to his cause.

Treat him like everybody else — the “little people” who are forced to use normal channels — and Weinstein loses his ability to grandstand, and with it, the wind from his sails.  He doesn’t have the patience for such treatment, and he sulks away.

Just ask USAFA.

Actually, it looks like somebody did…

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General Welsh Recalls Memorial, Family of Fallen Aviano Pilot

At the recent Air Force Association symposium, US Air Force Chief of Staff told the story of Maj Luc “Gaza” Gruenther, who was killed during a training flight in January:

Gruenther was a pilot with the 555th Fighter Squadron in Aviano Air Base, Italy, when the Air Force lost contact with him during a training mission over the Adriatic Sea, Jan. 28. Three days later, Gruenther’s body was recovered.

As Welsh told the story of Gruenther, eyes welled with tears in the audience.

“About 1,000 folks showed up to the memorial of Gruenther,” Welsh said. “As the missing man formation passed the memorial, Gruenther’s family got to wave on, saying a final goodbye to their son, husband and wingman. I like to think that Gruenther kept pulling up on the formation and touched the face of God.”
 
Gruenther’s wife went on to give birth to a baby girl the very next day.

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Weinstein Delivers Ultimatum, Might Buy Billboard

In a terribly awkward PR maneuver, religious liberty critic Michael Weinstein — rebuffed by the US Air Force Chief of Staff — has now retreated to attacking the Air Force Academy directly over its link to a website that explains a Jewish holiday:

“MRFF is now making a specific demand to [Lt. Gen.] Mike Gould, the superintendent, to take down the link,” Weinstein says…

But Weinstein already complained to Gen Gould’s boss — and his boss cc’d Gen Gould on the reply to Weinstein.  And guess what?  Nothing has changed.  So why does Weinstein think this latest screed changes anything?

Regardless, Weinstein raised the stakes to show he meant business: 

Weinstein says if his demands are not met by 5:30 p.m. Thursday, his organization will take action.

The CSIndy reporter almost seemed to be stifling a laugh Read more

Michael Weinstein Endorses Homophobic Website in Rant

Michael Weinstein, who runs his self-styled Military Religious Freedom Foundation “charity,” recently endorsed a “horrendously homophobic” website — at least, according to his own standards.

Last week, Weinstein complained that the US Air Force Academy had linked to a website called JewFAQ.  The page it linked to was benign, and did exactly what the USAFA page intended, explaining the religious holiday in question.  On other pages, however, the website had the gall to describe teachings from the Talmud.  Though this might have shocked Weinstein — a self-described “Jewish agnostic” — most normal readers were not likely surprised to read Jewish beliefs on a Jewish website.

Weinstein and his acolytes took particular umbrage with one reference, however.  Quoth Weinstein:  Read more

New Military Drone Medal Will Outrank Bronze Star

The US military has created a new combat medal — which includes those who don’t actually go into combat:

Modern technology enables service members with special training and capabilities to more directly and precisely impact military operations at times far from the battlefield.  The Distinguished Warfare Medal will be awarded in the name of the secretary of defense to service members whose extraordinary achievements, regardless of their distance to the traditional combat theater, deserve distinct department-wide recognition. 

Technically, it seems any member of the military is eligible for the Distinguished Warfare Medal (DWM), including those involved in direct combat — so long as their extraordinary act did not involve “valor.”  However, the fact the citation criteria so Read more

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