The fortunate few
By By Buddy Bynum / editor
April 27, 2003
If I were a member of the 186th Air Refueling Wing I'd be mad as all get out about the investigations going on. Not because of any damaged reputations among the rank and file, but because evidence shows that certain officers allowed in some cases encouraged special treatment of favored friends to the whole unit's detriment.
If you were among the fortunate few, conditions at the Key Field-based unit, part of the Mississippi Air National Guard, could not have been better. Promotions, special deals, favorable working conditions, recreational trips, equipment purchased at taxpayer expense converted to private use and a plethora of other special considerations might come your way.
If you were among the fortunate few, base leadership might certify that you had completed certain training when you hadn't.
If you were among the fortunate few, you might lie to a congressional committee.
If you were among the fortunate few, you might cheat on military education exams or claim someone else's research paper as your own.
If you were among the fortunate few, you might abuse your authority in many ways, including retaining a pilot who had been medically disqualified from flying.
Violations
If you were among the fortunate few, you might operate a retail liquor sales store on Key Field that violated not only its charter and ethical standards but also basic tax codes and accounting standards. You might get great deals on booze.
If you were among the fortunate few, you might get flight pay for not flying.
If you were among the fortunate few, you might demand signed, undated letters of resignation from some pilots and then use them to separate a 186th ARW pilot you didn't like.
If you were among the fortunate few, you might use racial slurs, demeaning racial terminology and jokes with impunity.
If you were among the fortunate few, you might threaten and intimidate the personnel under your command.
All this, and more, for the fortunate few.
On the other hand, if you were Clarence J. Romero, a black pilot subjected to wicked, demeaning racial discrimination, you might be banned from the Key Field base and have your photo plastered up at the guard house. You might be punished for daring to raise the discrimination issue.
If you were Jody Bryant, you might be bounced out of the unit for daring to raise questions about the way things operated, and pledging to do something about it.
And, if you were down in the ranks at the 186th, just doing your job to the very best of your abilities, you might wish the whole thing would go away.
Stop the silliness
Like I said, if I were a member of the 186th ARW I would demand punishment for the offenders and it would have to take the form of something more serious than allowing just two of the principal characters to retire with full benefits.
If you were Gov. Ronnie Musgrove you might take a more active interest in how such despicable behavior was allowed to continue for at least two years, nearly three, after it was brought to your attention.
If you were Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, you might be embarrassed shamed, even by the conduct of some officers at the 186th ARW on your watch.
You might stand up and try to make things right in a Mississippi Air Guard unit that has real professionals among its rank-and-file members the courageous kind of people who deserve better treatment.
You might decide that these sorts of conditions are simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated and then take serious action to make sure the ills are cured.
That's what you might do.
What will Musgrove do?
