US Air Force “Blue Max” is AWOL!

Red Star, Green Star, Gold Star! I had all the stars aligned in a row after my name on the “Star Poster.” Oh, my row did not have the most stars. Not by a longshot. Claim belonged to another, though not rightfully, as several of his victories were ill-conceived – he cheated.   

An overzealous teacher concealed the truth in an attempt to publicly relish in the glory of her favorite pupil. Still, I remained focused on the Blue Star, the one star I did not have. Not yet.

Competition appears to be a useful tool for teachers to get students to excel, be their best. But I did not learn competition, strategy and tactics in the second grade. No, the instinct to “one up the other” as a form of survival was instinctual, instilled in me going back as far as I can remember.

Stars are strong symbols. Children wish on a star. Winners and Soldiers earn them. They’re more than merely pieces of colorful stickers or pieces of silver, bronze or gold. Brave men and women have fought and died for flags and medals that bear this symbol. 

As a child, I saw myself as a “Red Baron,” an ace in my “Radio Flyer” wagon or on my blue Schwinn bike racing across worlds. When an adversary struck, I stepped forward to defend my own.

“Honor Among Thieves” and Cheats

Honor Amongst Air Force Academy took a nosedive. “Operation Paperclip” marked the dossiers of the most highly valued German scientists. A strong contrast to what I see as “Operation SnowFLAKES” to flag low value dishonorable American Air Force Cadets.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, Sir, “It was reported that following a lengthy investigation, the Air Force Academy had identified 245 Cadets of suspected cheating, 231 who admitted cheating, 210 who were placed on probation… 22 cadets were expelled from the academy. What does this say about the ethics of such a large number of cadets who have no problem with cheating…?” 

WTF? And US critiques China for stealing?

Kendall’s response: “There’s been a lot of changes in all the academies honor systems over the years…It used to be you make one mistake and you’re out automatically. We don’t take that approach anymore. I think that’s probably a positive change.”

Sir, were not talking about mistakes, but about blatant dishonesty. Taking a non-traditional route like your adversaries? Hell, why spend $ on UCCAs. Just send up in the air cheating cadets who are dispensable. In my June 2020 paper, West Point’s “Blue Max” is AWOL I  point to Jack D. Hunter’s novel, Blue Max, a medal obtained Pour le Mérite.

What’s the Air Force justification for lowering their standards? Says Kendall, “People that come in from the current culture don’t have the same value system that people might have had 50 years or so ago when I came in. That’s just a fact of life.” It’s a sorry state of affairs. Hey, but if all you need is a bunch of warm bodies, you’re in luck that these sorry SOBs don’t give a fuck. 

Recruiting “Top Guns” or Bottom ChEATERS?

When asked how is recruiting and retention going for the Air Force and Space Force? Kendall responded, “It’s a little bit of a challenge. Space Force doesn’t have an issue because it’s so small. Space Force by the end of the year is going to be about 8500 people. The active Air Force is about 330,000…”

SIR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU’RE WRONG. It doesn’t look good when one of yours and NASA’s contractors say otherwise.

Pratish Shah is the General Manager of the United States operations of leading satellite solutions manufacturer Aitech. He recently stated “We are dealing with a 20- to 30-year gap in space interest and skilled space personnel, many of whom are now retiring.”

According to the company’s website, “Aitech provides rugged commercial and military embedded computing solutions for a variety of high-profile defense, space and industrial programs across the globe.”

The film, Top Gun: Maverick, having been postponed repeatedly is set to show on May 27^th. No doubt, it would make a great recruitment tool. Too bad all admitted are NOT true “Top Guns.”

True and Brave Mavericks are like Marines, “few and proud.” I have had the honor and fortune to meet a few of these men. Their words are a testament to their numbers as fewer and fewer Marines can truthfully speak of such honors.

High expectations once attributed to the highly revered West Point have also waned. In his book, The Cost of Loyalty: Dishonesty, Hubris, and Failure in the U.S. Military, Tim Bakken, West Point Law Professor notes his concerns of lower admission standards at West Point. Not only are those admitted less apt to learn specific tasks but they are not being trained for the new challenges on the ground. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson clearly understands the importance of staying true to one’s ethos.

Col. Wilkerson explains that the “warrior ethos” is destroyed “when you go out and kill people and you’re totally invulnerable.” He adds, “I think the drone business, the distance imposed amplifies this 100 fold.” Clearly the interlink between weaponry and technological advances in air space and cyberspace plays a role.

But more importantly the increase in these weapons promotes a “quick and dirty” policy of filling empty spaces with what Kendall called “People that come in from the current culture don’t have the same value system.” Online gaming utilizing “young pilots…recruited at video game fairs” has not only facilitated the CIA drone war attacks but is conducive to the current value system.

Honor Our Brave!

Top Gun: Maverick makes an ideal propaganda film promoting war. It’s US scheduled release date of May 27^th proximity to Memorial Day, May 30^th   is no surprise. But let’s not forget that Memorial Day is a day to Honor Our Brave!

Father and I have fought many battles against different adversaries. Each of us, characteristically, wearing our own version of stars on our sleeves, alongside our scars and flaws.

I, as Father, have brazenly navigated multiple worlds infused with a “fighting spirit” shining bright inside us. Respecting myself and taking responsibility for my actions, I owe to my Father. Accepting no less of others, I learned from my Father.

Stars and metals of honor are but a reflection of what’s already inside us. In a calculative mode we decidedly go after what we want no matter the obstacles, rightfully and honorably earning our victories and our Blue Max!