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Keep the cheerleaders

I agree the Navy has a growing problem with sexual assault, but I don’t agree with the view expressed at the women’s symposium about visits made by cheerleaders and Hooters girls [“Latest sex assault prevention push targets bystanders,” July 19].

The majority of the fleet consists of young, single men ages 18 to 25, many of whom have not spent significant time away from [distractions] such as these. The majority of women in the fleet are not impressionable young girls, either. They are adults capable of making adult decisions. Visits by these women are a way for the men to blow off steam — a relief valve, in a way. Visits are also made by NFL players, and I’ve been around some of the women onboard ships who view them as pieces of meat, as well.

Everyone gets some enjoyment out of these deals with the NFL and other organizations. It brings sexiness to the ships without the sex. These are just high-profile ladies with love for their country. If you want to do something, educate the sailors on the ties between alcohol and sexual assault. Don’t punish the NFL and Hooters for trying to bring eye candy to service members.

— MM2 Joseph Herrera, Bremerton, Wash.

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I think this article should have been broken into two separate issues. The matter of sex assault prevention was excellent information, but to lump the change in culture in along with it was off the mark.

I respect the opinions voiced at the recent women’s symposium, but I can’t seem to grasp the concept of “cheerleaders and Hooters girls” as being “insulting to professional sailors.” That’s like saying being a cheerleader or a Hooters girl is demeaning to women. Would this also mean we would scrutinize visits from female recording artists who wear risqué outfits? What about [visits from] World Wrestling Entertainment stars?

I understand the need to provide a safer environment that does not promote sexual assault, but let’s not sanitize our environment to the point where those who look to serve their country through community service are shunned just because someone does not like what they do.

— MA2 Eban Rolle, Corpus Christi, Texas

I appreciate the spirit of [retired officers] lobbying Congress for stricter child nutrition legislation, getting vending machines with junk food out of the schools, etc., but I believe they’re focusing on the wrong issues [“Retired officers want to slim down America’s youths,” July 19]. Child obesity issues start at home. Parents today, it seems, are too busy or too lazy to prepare healthy meals for their kids.

The next problem is that kids don’t play outside anymore. They spend their existence in front of a TV, video game or computer screen, relieving parents of the responsibility of actually being parents.

A child who eats right at home, gets exercise and then grabs a candy bar at school isn’t going to end up too fat to enlist. Obese children who face problems later in life can look back and blame mom and dad, not Hostess.

— MA1 (SW) Nathan Stalker, Rota, Spain

I served 20 years in the Navy. Alongside me were men of many cultural backgrounds. Some of these men were gay, some were straight, and some should never have been allowed to serve at all. At no time during my career was I asked if it was all right if someone of a persuasion other than mine could serve along side me [“Pentagon sends out survey on gay troops,” July 19].

So, what comes next? Do sailors join a union and get to vote on where they will serve and who they follow? We received our orders and carried them out. No options.

Does Congress really think there will be a mass exodus of straights when gays are finally given the same opportunity that we all served to provide? How many got out when African-Americans were integrated? How many jumped off when women were totally integrated into our forces? The same number will leave when gays are allowed to serve openly.

— QMC Ralph Roe (ret.), Pittsburgh

I just read your July 12 edition, and I must say that I have never had a publication tick me off so badly.

First, I read a letter from a retired E-6 who talks about how chiefs should share the mess with everyone else on the ship [“Chiefs should share mess”]. If that E-6 would have made chief, I can bet he would have a different opinion.

Second, the letter right after that one is from a Coast Guard captain who talks about reducing the carrier fleet [“Reduce the carrier fleet”]. If not for the carriers, the F/A-18 aircraft and the pilots and crews that keep them flying, the world would be in a lot worse shape than it is now. How many times in recent history has the Navy sent out carriers on a moment’s notice — bringing 5 acres of U.S. sovereignty to the front lines of the battlefield — and won it for everyone else? Fighters off the carriers were the first to strike in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Third, the Navy provides the same opportunity for all enlisted sailors to advance [“Study: White sailors advance at higher rate than minorities,” Your Navy]. Advancement is done by performance marks and test scores. You are going to have differences in advancements due to many reasons. The main reasons are performance, studying for the exam, points for individual augmentee deployments and awards. Now you are telling the Navy that we need to hold off promoting hard-working sailors to make everything even across the board due to race? Is that truly fair?

— CMDCM (AW) Myron Roshto, Bremerton, Wash.