This is probably a way of thinking that mirrors the generation that you served in.

I've been in the AF nearly 12 years (16 if you count USAFA). I'll be the first to admit we are no where near as tough as your generation was in the military. I technically am not the "entitlement generation" Im 1 step up from that, but im probably 2 or 3 steps down from your generation (I'm 33 and Im guessing that you guys are a little bit older based on your service stories). However, where it counts, yes people are still incredibly tough. Look at the things our SOF and even regular army guys are doing in Afghanistan. Man that doesn't get any harder than that. Those soldiers/airmen/seamen/marines are amazing, and Im incredibly proud of them.

So getting to the whole political correctness thing. Has it made us any less capable of a military? Not at all. We're actually better ambassadors now. We have a better ability to win hearts and minds. We don't win wars on the battlefield anymore. We win them through perception (made famous by the blunders of Vietnam).

We have evolved as a military just like aviation has evolved. Some might claim I'm a weaker pilot than they were because I fly a glass cockpit with Auto everything, and they spent 25 years flying VOR to VOR in a DC-9 with no autothrottles etc, holding over NDB's etc etc. And to that I say, yes that probably makes me weaker. But it doesn't apply anymore, you have to adapt to your environment, whatever that may be. So that's just one example of how things change and even though it appears to be a bad thing, its not. Aviation adapted. The military adapted. Society adapts. Its how humans progress, if you subscribe to that way of philosophical thinking.

 

ghillis101

Be careful, you can drown in 1" of cool-aid. Sounds like you definitely have colored lips.

PC has definitely cost the tactical air force's capability

 

Well, you cant make everyone happy...9 more days to Armpit April

 

I certainly don't think theres a whole lot of military PC Kool-Aid out there, and if there is, I don't see it where I drill. But I do believe in Philosophy, specifically the theory that the human race progresses with time, and in doing so establishes new standards for morality, societal and institutional norms, etc. It is of course also human nature to resist these changes.


Again, I think we show signs of which generation we claim, and that drives our biases on this topic. I am not saying you should believe what I believe. I definitely see where you are coming from, but I choose to support political correctness for certain reasons: I am a Muslim, I am a minority, and I fully support women in combat roles and in the cockpit. The opportunities I have had in life are due to pioneers before me helping to break down barriers. You may disagree with me, and that's alright because the more differing opinions we have when it comes to military service, the more we can develop ideas on how to move forward.

This is a buzz kill. Can we talk about airplanes and the airlines now

 

So does that mean that the BA, LH, and other foreign crews that wear a full on Marko Ramius are dangerous because they're allowed to come to work with one?

 

Theyre allowed to have beards?

 

You've never been in a customs line behind one that has one?

 

I didn't realize BA and LH could. I knew that about EK/EY and the other middle eastern carriers who of course allow it for religious reasons.

 

Ghilis,

Your first 2 paragraphs I was with you.

Your second two, I wonder if we are in the same Air Force.

Political correctness is a disease. And it is killing the military culture.

I hope you can figure out a way to express your beliefs without aligning with PC.

 

We probably are two different AFs. Im AFRC/AMC, so we're a much different culture than ACC. Never been exposed to what you guys have seen, so that probably has something to do with it.