Back in my Navy days, we used to cite the little known "fourth law of thermodynamics", which states that "if the heat's on him, it's not on you!" America's Air Force has come in for a lot of heat lately, much of it deserved. This latest story on the upgrades to executive lift accommodations for USAF brass is a bit of a cheap shot though.
I've traveled extensively with four-star officers in while on active duty. If the average American knew what we paid these guys (about $168,000), they'd realize we get amazingly talented individuals to serve in relatively low-paying positions at a time in their lives when their corporate counterparts are raking in millions of dollars. I'm not excusing the horrible optics associated with this story, but I am suggesting that making the flying a bit more comfortable for people who travel constantly on our nation's business for an hourly rate of about $40 an hour isn't necessarily a national crime.
Friday, July 18, 2008
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CW, despite the fact that I actually concur with your argument, I am ashamed to say that I still find myself taking some glee that it is happening to the good ol' Air Force. I'll never forget the time four of us Navy LCDRs and CDRs were taking some shore leave and reserving some rather rustic accommodations at Rodman Air Force base in Panama. We were excited about the opportunity to have a place other than the ship out of which to base for a weekend of R&R. As we were gladly completing the paperwork at the reservation desk, four USAF 2nd Lts came in and informed the desk clerk that those same accommodations were "unsuitable" and requested a "quarters non-availability" stamp for their orders so they could claim maximum per diem at a luxury hotel out in town. When the desk clerk balked, and we stood there with looks of disbelief at their profound senses of self-importance, one of the 2nd Lts instructed the clerk to call an Air Force 1-800 number (1-800-SPOILME?) where she apparently received direction to do exactly as the fledgling military officers had instructed. Acknowledging your rational view of unnecessarily restrictive travel regulations for our extraordinarily busy senior officials carrying out our nation's business, should it nevertheless be any surprise that by the time our USAF officers arrive at the 3 and 4 star level, their sense of entitlement might be just a little higher than, say, their counterparts in the other Services? Just as an aside, just before the story broke about SECDEF firing the Secretary and Chief of the Air Force, Navy was getting lots of press about its seriously waning credibility on Capitol Hill. But that story line rapidly vanished as the Air Force stole the headlines and then tenaciously clasped onto them with the tanker debacle and then the siphoning of "war dollars" for cushier accommodations. I certainly hope the other Service Chiefs sent the new Chief of Air Force a fruit basket or something for jumping on the grenade.
Shipmate...I can see your view. They definitely have a culture of entitlement that we didn't. That said, the aircraft/Gucci accommodations they were seeking were for all the heavies of all services....AMC does the vast majority of the VIP lift for all the four stars. Now our guys probably sat back and let them fry on this one, you're probably right. But they surely enjoy the perks when they fly USAF Airlines....
Ask a retired 4-Star today what he misses most about his active duty time -- in many instances, you'll get the reply, "The Plane."
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