Several readers penned letters to the editor for the October issues of Navy Times ranging from women in combat to presidential contender Donald Trump and the military.
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Oct. 12 issue:
UNIFORM SHAKE-UP
Regardless of which style of the working uniform the Navy adopts, I suggest that the uniforms be fitted with epaulets for officer and CPO rank insignia and a Velcro patch on the left shoulder for placement of a simplified, smaller-size enlisted rank patch. The officer/CPO rank could be made on simple, inexpensive embroidered shoulder loops that slip over the epaulets (similar in design to those worn on white shirts and black sweaters). Enlisted ranks could be worn as a simplified rating badge (perhaps half the size worn on dress uniforms and without the specialty device) that attaches with Velcro to the left shoulder.
Remember that enlisted ranks were stenciled on the sleeve of the old dungaree uniform, and simplified rating badges (without specialty device) were worn on deck jackets. This location of rank insignia provides quick differentiation between junior enlisted and their leaders. This insignia model would also save sailors the time and expense of having to have insignia sewn on their working uniforms and allows for easy updating after a promotion. Velcro name tapes or flight suit-style tags could also be worn for the individual's name.
Whatever the Navy decides, I hope they avoid the chest tab rank insignia currently worn by the Army — nearly impossible to tell an individual's rank without getting directly in their face! Velcro patches could also be standard on the upper shoulder to allow for U.S. or Navy flag patch, a unit insignia or ship's patch should it be desired for esprit de corps.
Also, doesn't it make more sense to wear a sweatshirt or simple fleece pullover under the flight suit or coverall — more comfortable against the skin and less need for it to be flame resistant?
Interesting to hear the Navy is now talking about replacing the "blueberries" with a version of the Coast Guard's solid navy blue Operational Duty Uniform (ODU). I know that when the Coast Guard was developing that uniform, MCPOCG Vince Patton approached the Navy about adopting it as well, knowing it would save the Coast Guard money!
Mark Weber
Curator, U.S. Navy Memorial
Washington, D.C.
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ON LEADERSHIP
One thing about leadership at the highest level is that if you dictate the discussion, you can promote your agenda. What is constant is change. Every service member should know that there are cycles of discussion in the military and naval service such as weight management, retention/reduction, promotion opportunities, uniform changes, veteran health care, etc.
What sailors want is great leadership, leadership worthy of great people. Sailors want to know if they die, that their death wasn't inconsequential or wasted. Sailors want a system that is mission-focused and not used in a wasteful way.
Failing this, the United States of America must reinstitute the universal two-year commitment draft, so that the future decision-makers will have the basic framework of what all service men and women want and need.
Lt. James N. Phillips Jr. (ret.)
Grass Lake, Mich.
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Oct. 19 issue:
WHISTLEBLOWER KICKED OUT
Regarding "Uneven Justice: Disgraced Navy officer says her career was ruined after red-flagging alleged fraud," Oct. 5 issue of Navy Times:
How can ex-Lt. Cmdr. Sy'needa Penland be convicted of adultery as a single woman? Also, with facts as presented by Navy Times, perhaps someone should take a closer look at the command element she was assigned to. How does adultery relate to whistleblowing if not simple "pay back"?
Lt. Cmdr. Ronald W. Adams (ret.)
Fairfield, Calif.
First, I must agree it was unduly harsh to have discharged Lt. Cmdr. Sy'needa Penland six months short of 20 years. The Navy should have let her retire at 20 either as a lieutenant commander or a lieutenant.
As for the Navy having treated her unfairly by taking her to court-martial, I disagree. Lt. Cmdr. Penland was the one who refused Article 15, requested court-martial, and was convicted [of] the charges. One should never refuse Article 15 unless they know they can beat all of the charges.
In her case, the conduct unbecoming of an officer charge was a sure winner for the prosecution. The fact that the single Lt. Cmdr. Penland was disciplined for adultery and [the] married Lt. j.g. was not is common since she was the more senior officer.
The Navy expects more from the senior officer, even if that person is a woman. For adultery to be a crime in the military, one must have had "sexual intercourse" with someone; they or their sexual partner was married to someone else at the time; and that under the circumstances, the conduct of the service member was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces. Only one of the parties needs to be married. The fact Penland was single is irrelevant.
Cmdr. Wayne L. Johnson (ret.)
Alexandria, Va.
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Oct. 26 issue:
MABUS SPARKS OUTRAGE
The article "Vets stung by Mabus comments on Lejeune water" [Oct. 5] is a colorful example of the lack of leadership by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. Anyone familiar with the issue who read his comments could easily discern he was tap dancing around the Lejeune poison water issue. In a pitiful move, he directed blame for dumping poisonous chemicals on an off-base laundry.
Shame on you, Mr. Secretary. You are an embarrassment to your office and the administration for failing to aid military veterans and their families.
I was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for two years during the early 1970s, assigned to Headquarters & Services Battalion as a military police traffic accident investigator. I resided on base, drank the water, ate the food prepared with the water in the mess halls and used the water daily in my barracks for routine hygiene purposes. My duties required me to travel all over the Marine base to enforce laws and investigate accidents.
I contracted kidney cancer and lost my right kidney. Kidney cancer and several other internal cancers have been recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs as cause for claims/compensation for vets who served aboard Lejeune during certain specified time periods. I currently have an active claim with the VA under review for my loss of a kidney and expect to be treated fairly based on my being exposed to toxins during my service there.
After hearing your comments concerning the matter, I am thoroughly PO'd and would now be satisfied only for you or one of your immediate family members to replace my lost kidney with one of your healthy organs. Your lack of concern regarding the Lejeune water issue is extremely disturbing to me and other veterans who served there, many of whom died from their exposure to the chemicals.
I strongly suggest you read some books on supervision, directed at taking care of those in your charge.
Veteran Cpl. Paul D. Scheppf, USMC
Selma, N.C.
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LAST ON SLOGANS
My father was an enlisted aircraft mechanic in the 1950s and early-1960s. He prominently displayed a bumper sticker that stated, matter-of-factly, that "Sailors have more fun."
I joined the U.S. Navy in the mid-1980s, and after a 25-year career, I can confidently confirm that slogan, and thank my father for it.
Capt. Brent J. Griffin (ret.)
Professor, U.S. Naval War College
Portsmouth, R.I.
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WOMEN IN COMBAT
With regard to the article "Awaiting decision on women in combat" published in the Oct. 12 issue of Navy Times, should the secretary of defense and Congress agree to this?
It then begs the question of whether women will be required to register for the draft like their male counterparts must do when they reach 18 years of age?
I would argue that, if the decision is made to open all aspects of military service to women with no combat restrictions levied on them whatsoever, then it is not only fair to their male counterparts, but also necessary in order to fill our combat unit requirements in time of national emergencies and/or war. The mandatory Selective Service Registration (Draft) should then apply to all, regardless of sex. It will be interesting to see if this has been given some thought and figured into the final decision on this issues.
Capt. Jerry Hart (ret.)
Chesapeake, Va.
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TRUMP & THE MILITARY
Most veterans rolled their eyes with disdain when they heard Donald Trump attempt to equate his Vietnam-era experience at a military prep school with actual military experience. But should his military record be judged so quickly and harshly?
The truth is that for those who served in the military during the Vietnam era, there could be vast differences in experience. Some may have received limited training; others may have taken part in fierce combat.
Many authors and pundits seem to place military experience in one of two camps: those who did not serve in the military, and those who did. Since Donald Trump did not serve in the military, no credit is given for his experience with military-type discipline and lifestyle at a prep school. But, arguably, his military prep school experience should not be discarded out of hand while at the same time treating all military experience of true veterans with little distinction.
An authoritative reference book from 1978, "Chance and Circumstance: The Draft, the War and the Vietnam Generation" by Lawrence M. Baskir and William A. Strauss, documents the disparities in military service that existed during the Vietnam War. The following quotes from that book illustrate the wide disparities in military experiences that occurred during the Vietnam War:
"At the peak of the war, waiting lists were long, reflecting the popularity of the National Guard and reserves as sanctuaries from the draft. Many draft-vulnerable men who became guardsmen or reservists were able to leapfrog these lists by having influential persons nominate them to fill the rare vacancies."
"Training for the National Guard or reserves was neither as rigorous nor as thorough as that given the active forces. Often, reservists had to train with outmoded equipment and then read books or watch movies to learn how to use the modern equivalents."
"If he had sufficient education and a high enough IQ to meet their tougher enlistment standards, a draft-vulnerable man could also reduce his chances of engaging in combat by joining the Coast Guard, Navy or Air Force."
"Generally, combat missions in these services involved volunteers — officers who had become pilots or patrol boat commanders with full knowledge of the risks involved, or enlisted men who willingly accepted hazardous duty. For others, the risk of combat was minimal. Altogether, the risk of dying in Vietnam was nineteen times as great for Marine and Army troops as for Navy and Air Force men."
"Notre Dame survey found that two-thirds of all enlistees in these branches were motivated, at least in part, by the desire to avoid Vietnam, even if this meant a three- or four-year enlistment instead of the two years served by most draftees. As one sailor commented, 'There ain't no Viet Cong submarines.' "
My personal military experience easily can be viewed as exceeding that of Donald Trump, but I view it in a relative sense. Shortly after completing a Platoon Leaders Class officer candidate program in the summer of 1966, I learned that the Marine Corps had openings in its law program and transferred into that specialized field.
When a buddy of mine, Marine 1st Lt. Lee Roy Herron, died heroically in Vietnam in 1969 (receiving a posthumous Navy Cross), I was safely attending law school in the U.S. My subsequent three years' active duty in the Marine Corps from 1971 through 1973 were uneventful other than spending my final year of duty on the island of Okinawa, being stationed there with the 3d Marine Division when the Vietnam War ended in late January 1973.
I did not serve in Vietnam, never saw combat and received no awards for valor. It is difficult for me to totally discount Donald Trump's military-type experience when my personal experience is woefully limited compared with so many who fought for this country, many dying, being severely wounded or becoming POWs in the process.
Perhaps others also might think twice before judging Donald Trump's military record.
Or should we just treat all Vietnam-era military veterans as heroes and harshly judge anyone who did not serve during that time?
Former Capt. David L. Nelson, USMC
Houston
