The Air Force Association has joined fellow military organizations in opposition of the provisions of S.967, “The Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013”. A letter was sent to the offices of the Honorable Carl Levin (MI), Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC); the Honorable James Inhofe (OK), Ranking Member, SASC and the members of the SASC earlier this week.
AFA and its peer organizations believe that the proposed changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) will negatively affect a commanding officer’s ability to protect their Airmen. This proposed change poses a threat to our national security by compromising a commander’s ability to maintain good order and discipline in his or her command, and could potentially result in fewer prosecutions and convictions of sexual misconduct.
The letter was signed by AFA’s Chairman of the Board George Muellner, a retired Air Force lieutenant general, as well as over 100 general officers and five former Chief Master Sergeants of the USAF.
“The key to stopping sexual assault in the military is holding commanders at all levels accountable for their command climate,” said Muellner. “Stripping away UCMJ authority from commanders would deprive them of the necessary leadership role that accountability demands of leaders.”
The full text of the letter can be found on the AFA website, and will be considered as the Senate debate of the FY14 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) continues, along with similar letters of retired officers gathered by the Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) and the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).
Thursday, November 21, 2013
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In Feb 1990, I was ordered through Presidential Call up to report to 149th RMS at Kelly AFB, TX and reinstated active duty at Holloman AFB, NM. It was very difficult to leave my civilian job as an Asset Forfeiture - Data Analyst/Messenger II at the Immigration and Naturalization Service Bridge Two location. But, became more difficult when my Senior Inspector co-workers started to ask me - why I was back. I was told by my Federal Senior Inspectors that they need to have a working employee and not someone like me. I then decided to call on the JAG office given at debrief about any mistreatment given at the job. The JAG spoke to my onsite supervisors that I was not to be threaten because of the Shipman Act. I request through Dyncorp at Reston Virginia Office that I be transferred to keep our local office outside any more scrutiny. My intentions were to save the company and those employed with our company Federal Contract. It would be shortchanged action - when the Federal Office INS Port Director and Assistant Port Director attempted to apply pressure to the Houston, TX USAO Drug Task Force Office with questions and pressure to discredit my employment. They decided to wait after my DOD enlistment was over the two year period in order to decide to Terminate my employment and position. I was devastated and compounded my anxieties and depression with the constant battles with people trying to discredit my employment and history. In 1997, I decided to go back to school to finish my Bachelors in Business Admnistration with a major of Finance - but it was still not going to be easy to do. My records were messed up in such a manner that the VA Administrator at TAMIU registrar told me that because of my incarceration status - I could not get VA GI bill benefits. I took my problem with the Congressman Liason Officer Mrs. Martinez - and had my record explunged and copies never sent to me upon requests several times. It would seem that the people whom were out to mess with my life did not stop there. I decided to get a student loan for $1300 in order to finish and graduate in Dec. 1998. However, the TSGL have managed to mismanage my loan with allowing exorbent fees and interest that they are now requesting for over $3500 and default on my loan. This loan has not been able to be resolved since my letters and forbearance requests were not updated by previous lenders that passed on the loan. I am asking that the Armed Services Committee over Military Justice Improvement Act enact laws that governs lenders for Servicemember returning home after Desert Storm participation and mistaken omitted their rights for a VA School Benefits be required to pay all expenses associated to Student loan mistakenly denied. It should be made correct by the Military - to repay any student loans left outstanding due to an unforeseen mistake. Soldiers should have their credit and record safe with a safelock membership for life and keeping all those whom try to ruin the life a serviceman or woman in the United STates. These are the reason why many men and women are not given good paying jobs and creditworthiness ruined , because the forces of evil doers are keeping our Servicemen and women from advancing and away from homelessness. I hope you will try to honor my requests and that changes to the military laws are always made to improve the lives of those men and women that served and serve if they were ever called upon. GOD bless you and GOD bless America!
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