(USAF) Sergeant In Trouble For Playboy Spread

[Rifleman62]

In todays San Antonio Express News:

Airman defends baring all in Playboy

Sig Christenson
Express-News Military Writer

In her days as a Lackland AFB drill sergeant, Michelle Manhart could be very stern.
Now she's simply steamy.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michelle Manhart poses for a photo in San Antonio, recently. Manhart, who is featured in the February issue of Playboy magazine, has been relieved of her duties pending an investigation

Manhart appears in a six-page Playboy magazine spread shot at a home in the Dominion.

As the magazine's February edition hits newsstands today, irate Air Force officials have taken her off the job and launched an investigation. She's hired a lawyer.

"There's nothing wrong with it. I consider myself a very good image," Manhart said Thursday. "By no means did I see anything negative in what I was doing."

A SeaWorld-area mother of two whose husband is also in the Air Force, Manhart, 30, was photographed for the magazine last spring. The pictorial depicts her in classic Playboy poses, some in a weight room, with predictably little left to the imagination.

The idea of posing in the magazine had percolated since she was 12 and saw her first Playboy. It was a day she hasn't forgotten and looks back on fondly.

"I said someday I'm going to do that," Manhart said. "I'm going to get there someday."

Over the years she modeled for newspaper ads and department stores, and twice sent photos from her portfolio to Playboy in hopes of making the cut. She was clothed in those shots.

Things picked up last spring when the magazine held casting calls in San Antonio. No sooner had Manhart left than she was called back, and two shooting sessions in the Dominion home quickly followed.

"She's very beautiful," Playboy spokeswoman Theresa Hennessey said. "She's very well-educated, she's very well-rounded and I think she has an interesting story."

Manhart comes from a military family. Her dad served in the Navy, her stepfather in the Marines and a grandfather in the Army Air Corps.

Manhart arrived at Lackland for basic training on June 9, 1994, the day she graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, Calif.

At Lackland, she trained in the Air Force's law enforcement academy and the K-9 program. In time, she'd earn a long list of medals and commendations, serve in Kuwait on the second anniversary of 9-11, get a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Northern Iowa and start on a master's.

The photo shoot in the Dominion was the culmination of her dreams. It took place with a photographer, his assistant and a producer on the set and an atmosphere she called "very comfortable, very relaxing."

"I was extremely excited about it," Manhart said. "I remember asking, 'Is there anything beyond this? What else can come of this?'"

That is a question the Air Force is trying to answer. Manhart last week told a superior she would appear in the next issue of Playboy and was relieved of duty pending an investigation.

"This staff sergeant's alleged action does not meet the high standards we expect of our airmen, nor does it comply with the Air Force's core values of integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do," Lackland spokesman Oscar Balladares said, reading from an Air Force statement. "It is not representative of the many thousands of outstanding airmen who serve in the U.S. Air Force today."

Manhart disputes that.."I think that the woman's body is one of the most beautiful creations in the world. I don't care who you are," she said. "The body is like art to me. Everybody is their own being and because of that it makes everyone beautiful in their own way. Everyone is their own piece of art."

 

[armyvern]

Reading the story, I see that she is MARRIED and has two kids. I hope the kids are not old enough to read, or see their Mum in the nude  in a magazine. Talk about a supreme lack of class, on her part. Can you say "discharge without honour " ?

Jim B Toronto.

She's married?? Whoop dee do. MARRIED men with children subscribe to or purchase these magazines all the time; or else they wouldn't exist.

Lack of class? Only by your own personal standards, which obviously are not the same as other people's standards.

Discharge Without Honour?  :rofl:

This statement/thought is absolutely laughable; unless, of course, you are also more than willing to "Discharge Without Honour" every single one of the males (or females) who are currently serving in uniform who purchase this magazine. What's good for the goose, is indeed, good for the gander.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Discharge Without Honour?  :rofl:
This statement/thought is absolutely laughable; unless, of course, you are also more than willing to "Discharge Without Honour" every single one of the males (or females) who are currently serving in uniform who purchase this magazine. What's good for the goose, is indeed, good for the gander.

Bullshit.

I would, however discharge any male who would appear nude in a magazine/movie in the same fashion............thats goose/gander.

 

[scoutfinch]

That's EXACTLY how it is.

Last time I checked, my choice of reading material does'nt hold my entire unit/element up to ridicule.

P.S. You could probably add "female" to the gender portion of your profile - you're outed.

What an amazingly knee-jerk reaction!

(1).  I have never hidden my gender.
(2).  At no time in my post did I comment on whether I *approved* of her posing or of men purchasing the magazine.  To be honest, I could care less on either issue.  My point was the utter hypocrisy of the issue.
(3)  My favourite responses in this thread were the ones commenting on her getting out there and showing off her assets and the utility of this thread without photos.

 

[aesop081]

isn't the reason the CF exist in the first place is so everybody can enjoy the freedom of speech?

Taken directly from the Canadian Military Ethos:

We accept that in Volunteering to serve for our country we must endure the restrictions of certain freedoms including some rights provided by democratic process

 

[nowhere_man]

Do not think for a second that this is a MILITARY issue either.  The same question of perception applies to any public official.  Do you think that if a serving politician did the same, that him/her would continue to serve for long in that capacity ?

I do recall that MP Scott Brison posed for a calenderin which he was nude and he is still a serving MP. Although he didnt quite show off as much as the SSGT did.

 

[George Wallace]

Perhaps it was Bob Rae's 'Skinny Dipping' with Rick Mercer that kept him from winning the Liberal Leadership Race ?

 

[North Star]

For me, this is simple.

Don't read material that may be viewed as offensive while in uniform. If makes people uncomfortable, and portrays the military in a negative light. That includes such things as Playboy, Hustler, Mein Kampf (even if for legitimate scholarly purposes...read it in civvies), etc. Is there a "test" that determines if something is bad? Yes, the "reasonable person" threshold which we use for harassment. If you choose to buy porn, fine. Do it in civvies and "read" it in civvies. If you choose not to, beware.

If you choose to do something controversial such as posing nude or writing a nasty letter to the editor, for God's sake don't link it to your military career. What killed her was her exploitation of her professional status as part of her sexual mystique, which some could view as offensive to the institution. Had she posed without any reference whatsoever to the Air Force, she would have a pretty strong case.

I agree with the earlier post that one has a public (in our case CF) persona, and a private one. While they do blend, use common sense in keeping them separate as far as keeping up appearances is concerned.

As for politicians posing nudes, they're just attention-grabbing prima donnas. That's why people trust them less than used-car dealers.

PS - On another point, I read somewhere that the majority of Canadians trust and respect military leaders more than politicians. Perhaps our high "public" standard is why.

 

[armyvern]

Bullshit.

I would, however discharge any male who would appear nude in a magazine/movie in the same fashion............thats goose/gander.

Yeah it certainly is isn't it?

It's ethiclly or morally OK for the guys to look at the poses, but not for the girl to pose?

Yep, that certainly is el toro poo poo.

 

[aesop081]

The US regs undoubtably allow troops of all genders to purchase/ view adult magazines.

The US regs undoubtably forbid troops of all genders to pose for adult magazines.

She knew what was in the pot she was going to stir........

 

[armyvern]

If you choose to do something controversial such as posing nude or writing a nasty letter to the editor, for God's sake don't link it to your military career. What killed her was her exploitation of her professional status as part of her sexual mystique, which some could view as offensive to the institution. Had she posed without any reference whatsoever to the Air Force, she would have a pretty strong case.

And, as I said in an earlier post today, that's exactly it. I have NO sympathy for the member in question in this case because she used the uniform as a boost to her spread; she deserves whatever comes at her for that.

After hours and out of uniform? OK in my books.

 

[cplcaldwell]

+1

 

[Pea]

And, as I said in an earlier post today, that's exactly it. I have NO sympathy for the member in question in this case because she used the uniform as a boost to her spread; she deserves whatever comes at her for that.

After hours and out of uniform? OK in my books.

+1 Vern. That is my exact opinion as well. This whole topic got me thinking about this in general. What would my employer think if I did something like the Sunshine Girl in our local paper? Something I think I'll look around in our policy for, just out of curiosity.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Yeah it certainly is isn't it?
It's ethiclly or morally OK for the guys to look at the poses, but not for the girl to pose?
Yep, that certainly is el toro poo poo.

Once again,...bullshit.
I said I would kick a MAN out also for the same photo shoot,....but if serving women wish to look at 'les garcons tout nue' thats thier business.....but, just like everyone, on your own time.

 

[2 Cdo]

What would my employer think if I did something like the Sunshine Girl in our local paper?

I believe that was already done before out west, both male and female posed.

 

[armyvern]

Once again,...bullshit.
I said I would kick a MAN out also for the same photo shoot,....but if serving women wish to look at 'les garcons tout nue' thats thier business.....but, just like everyone, on your own time.

Perhaps, I guess, I just find it morally offensive when one would choose to decide that it is neither illegal nor morally offensive to look at nude photos, but on the other hand say it IS morally offensive to pose for them.

Girl or guy. Either or. Pot, kettle, black.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Morals??...me??

I just find it "professionally offensive"...thats it, thats all.


You won't see me in any movies with a night stick.  :nana:

 

[armyvern]

Morals??...me??
I just find it "professionally offensive"...thats it, thats all.
You won't see me in any movies with a night stick.  :nana:

That's OK, I just had to tell Hef that he'd have to up his offer for my spread to the 6 figure range and wait for me to retire.    ;D

 

[Poppa]

That's OK, I just had to tell Hef that he'd have to up his offer for my spread to the 6 figure range and wait for me to retire.    ;D

Donations go to where?  >

 

[joonrooj]

Don't read material that may be viewed as offensive while in uniform. If makes people uncomfortable, and portrays the military in a negative light. That includes such things as Playboy, Hustler, Mein Kampf (even if for legitimate scholarly purposes...read it in civvies), etc. Is there a "test" that determines if something is bad? Yes, the "reasonable person" threshold which we use for harassment. If you choose to buy porn, fine. Do it in civvies and "read" it in civvies. If you choose not to, beware.

If you choose to do something controversial such as posing nude or writing a nasty letter to the editor, for God's sake don't link it to your military career. What killed her was her exploitation of her professional status as part of her sexual mystique, which some could view as offensive to the institution. Had she posed without any reference whatsoever to the Air Force, she would have a pretty strong case.

+1