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Letters

Ban is not the answer

In response to retired Damage Controlman 1st Class Donald Britt’s letter about the exchange glamorizing alcohol, does he think that the exchange is the only place sailors shop [“Serious about alcohol?” Letters, June 1]?

Getting tough on alcohol abuse is about education and personal responsibility. With that thought process, if we took the pornographic, gun and sport bike magazines out of the exchange, we could just about solve all of our problems. To finish it off, let’s take the fast food off the bases and stop the commissary from selling anything but fruit, vegetables and low-fat products, and we could curb obesity while we’re at it.

We as leaders can provide the education and guidance, but the bottom line is it is up to every person in the military to make the right choice.

-- FCCM (SW) Eric Jacobs, Mayport Fla.

Be grateful for bennies

Because civilian federal government workers, in some programs, get matching taxpayer funds for the employees contributions to Thrift Savings Plan, Army Sgt. Patrick Hatfield feels those in the military should likewise receive similar benefits [“Military deserves benefit,” Letters, June 1].

OK — but you must give up:

• 20-year retirement (at 50 percent of pay) and 30-year retirement (at 75 percent) at any age, and instead take earliest retirement at age 55 with at least 30 years in, and you will only draw about 68 percent base pay.

• Housing allowances.

• Specialty pay.

• Chow allowances.

• Clothing allowances.

• Automatic longevity pay bumps.

• All medical attention that is not paid for by an insurance plan that you and the government share the premium payment for.

While another’s “green” bennies may whet your appetite for additional bucks, you need to consider what you already have, gratis, that others do not.

If you want more for yourself later, then save more of what you make now. Otherwise, live within your means at whatever level you find yourself.

-- Reserve Lt. Cmdr. John Haddick (ret.), Vienna, Va.

Frocking a proud tradition

In response to the letter “Why wait on pay?” [May 25], as usual, impatience and a lack of appreciation for tradition rears its ugly head.

Chief Religious Program Specialist Patrick Mondragon reflects the chiefs’ mess in relation to understanding and keeping Navy tradition.

Frocking is part of a long-standing practice initially for officers and eventually extended to enlisted sailors. It was a privilege to wear the uniform of a higher rank and function at that position. This reflected trust by the Navy and the chain of command that the person being frocked would handle the additional responsibilities of the higher position while waiting for official compensation. If Mondragon is not appreciative that the Navy bestowed on him the privilege to wear the uniform of a chief petty officer for a whole year before he was entitled, he should remove the uniform and retain his E-6 status until his actual promotion date.

-- CMDCM (SS) John David Tyner (ret.), Waipahu, Hawaii

— ——

Didn’t [Mondragon] sign a frocking letter before he put on khakis? If not, he should find his admin office right away — he may be out of uniform.

No one is forced to accept frocking to the next paygrade.

In my 28 years on active duty, I saw it as a very popular program. During that time, I only knew of one sailor who refused it, and he seemed to have much the same attitude as Mondragon. He wasn’t going to do the job until he got the pay. I didn’t quite understand all of his reasons, but I give him credit for turning down the frocking instead of putting on his khakis and then complaining.

-- PHCM (AW) Ted Salmons (ret.), Lebanon, Ore.

———

Mondragon has it all wrong. His priorities don’t add up to being advanced to chief. He should be thrilled to put on the hat.

I cannot express the pride I felt when advanced to chief and later to E-8 and E-9 — frocked in all three cases. Be a chief. Do the job. The money will come.

-- FTCM (SS) Donald Miller (ret.), McKinleyville, Calif.

Dumbed-down outreach

I thought I had seen about everything until I read the May 25 issue: The Naval Academy, the bastion of higher learning, is using comic books to recruit [“Academy’s graphic novel targets minority recruits,” Frontlines].

Are you kidding me? I’m just trying to picture the conversation around the wardroom table when these future leaders hit the fleet: “Gee, Captain, did you see what Archie did to Jughead in the August issue?”

Seriously, do we really need to lower the fleet average for men and women who are likely to be future skippers and flag officers?

-- Cmdr. Eric Milstein (ret.), Sacramento, Calif.

Threat from the deep

I applaud the article regarding the five things every sailor should know about the Chinese navy [SitRep, May 25].

The article addressed China’s navy end strength, party-approved officers, and a growing fleet consisting of no carriers, no amphibious assault ships, no guided-missile cruisers and half as many destroyers — definitely statistics that can bring a warm and fuzzy feeling.

However, I am a bit worried about the absence of any information about the one weapon system that essentially serves as the force multiplier of any country: the submarine force. After all, one undetected submarine can stop a battle group and can definitely deliver a war to our doorsteps.

I hope people, especially those in decision-making positions, understand this and keep supporting anti-submarine warfare programs.

-- Capt. Tem Bugarin (ret.), Chula Vista, Calif.

Don’t change ‘don’t ask’

Talk of changing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is alarming [“The chairman speaks,” Washington, June 8].

Sailors serve in close confinement on ships and other remote areas. Most of us want to be able to relax in our berthing and not think that people are admiring us and might even be attracted to us. I would rather not know about someone’s sexual preferences and simply be ignorant of that to fully concentrate on our important mission at hand. The Navy is not a social club.

It’s important to focus on our jobs, and DADT helps people keep their personal lives private. I say, don’t change what isn’t broken.

-- SK2 Stephanie Harries, San Diego