Playboy-Posing Sergeant Relieved Of Duty

Air Force Officer Who Posed Nude For Magazine Suspended For Not Meeting 'High Standards'

(AP)  An Air Force staff sergeant who posed nude for Playboy magazine has been relieved of her duties while the military investigates, officials said Thursday.

In February's issue, hitting newsstands this week, Michelle Manhart is photographed in uniform yelling and holding weapons under the headline "Tough Love." The following pages show her partially clothed, wearing her dog tags while working out, as well as completely nude.

"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," Oscar Balladares, spokesman for Lackland Air Force Base, said in a statement.

Manhart told Playboy that she considers herself as standing up for her rights.

"Of what I did, nothing is wrong, so I didn't anticipate anything, of course," Manhart, 30, told The Associated Press. "I didn't do anything wrong, so I didn't think it would be a major issue."

Manhart, who is married with two children, joined the Air Force in 1994, spending time in Kuwait in 2002. She trains airmen at Lackland.

[roblin2005]

"We train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won't allow them to write "f**k" on their airplanes because it's obscene!"
Apocalypse Now

[kathynblaek]

I saw several Marines receive dishonorable discharges after making a pornographic movie while wearing their dress blues. Anyone in the military with any sense knows you can't use the uniform for personal gain...she should be kicked out of the Air Force. There are plenty of decent women who could take her place.

[Ralph Babcock]

She should not have worn the dog tags or her uniform. If she is demoted, the magazines should be removed from the commisaries. This is double standard, and hypocritical. It takes two to tango.

[shanev137]

I wonder what her children think about her posing for Playboy. I wonder if she's going to tell her daughters that it's ok for them to pose nude for ***** men.

[battlground]

Air Babes!! Wow!! Now that's a real recruiting strategy.

BM

[j_flood]

Gotta love all the barracks lawyers in this! Things never change. When I was in you couldn't have a part time job away from the USAF unless you receive permission - did she ask first? LOL

[sstarksm]

It is kind of funny sitting here reading all these posts about someone that few of you really know and further more, though, even though what she did was wrong, in the military eyes, she is neither a bad mother or a "Ho in Uniform" as Agnim posted. I know Michelle will fight for her rights and the military will fight for what they believe in and after all is said and done, she will still be a wonderful mother and wife and friend to those that know her. It is funny how Col and Generals sleep with enlisted and they get forced to retire and not much is said, but something like this makes national news.

[raelynn212]

I have to disagree with the people who are saying this is okay. Sure the UCMJ says you can't have oral ***, but if we disagree with one of the articles then we should completely ignore everything else, including the three core values; Integrity, Service, and Excellence??
I enlisted one year ago and she was one of my T.I.'s and I remember her being very hard on us females. She continually lectured us on how women shouldn't be in the military because women are too weak. Now she's making women in the military look bad; not to mention women training instructors, who I'm assuming already have it hard enough! The news has slightly changed her last name, I'm assuming to keep her real identity a secret, but I will respect that and not post it.
And "Toscot", I'm assuming is a civilian, because we do have freedoms in this country, but the U.S. military has a higher standard to uphold.
And for "AFsoldier": for someone who is quoting the UCMJ so freely you may want to read AFI 36-2903 page #9 which states that you may not wear your uniform for "furthering political activities, private employment, or commercial interests", "working in an off duty capacity".
I hope Michelle "Manhart" is enjoying the big fat paycheck that she completely used the Air Force to get.

[tocscot]

Supposedly we are fighting the war in Iraq to support "freedom" in the world, yet this woman doesn't have the freedom to pose in Playboy if she wants? How hypocritical! Yeah, yeah, I know, the RULES state she shouldn't have posed, but as was pointed out, the rules may need to be revised as time marches on.

[tocscot]

Supposedly we are fighting the war in Iraq to support "freedom" in the world, yet this woman doesn't have the freedom to pose in Playboy if she wants? How hypocritical! Yeah, yeah, I know, the RULES state she shouldn't have posed, but as was pointed out, the rules may need to be revised as time marches on.

I tend to agree with AFGunner and afsoldier

afsoldier, yes there are some pretty strange things in the UCMJ, I spent 21 years in the Air Force and we all used to laugh about the oral s@x clause!!!

But then there are several states that have some pretty weird laws as well.

What she did was wrong, although I intend on going out and picking up a copy for myself :)

[afsoldier]

Having spent over many years on active duty I know what the UCMJ states. We are all so quick to Quote such articles that show where Manhart is wrong..but have you really read some of the articles? Did you know it is a crime to have oral *** with your partner under the UCMJ? Did you also know that any position of intercourse other than missionary are also a crime? Guess most of us have committed crimes according to the UCMJ. Our lawmakers are changing laws now to allow *** and lesbians to marry to catch up with society today. Maybe the UCMJ needs overhauled as well!!!

[skyguard-2009]

Ms Manhart was totally wrong and she knows it. By saying that she thought there was nothing wrong.She stated that it was to get a movie or modling.So she knew what she was doing. There is no way that she can go and teach values to new soldiers because she broke them herself. An to say that everyone else does it is also wrong. I have been in now 34 years will be 40 when i retire and i have seen all sides.SHE WAS WRONG and broke everything she was ever taught.

[arickdraven]

How can we justify and say that there is nothing wrong for a Mother of two and An Air Force staff sergeant to bare it all. We should set some rules and standards and live by them not break them and say that there is nothing wrong that its alright to be bad.

[arickdraven]

How can we justify and say that there is nothing wrong for a Mother of two and An Air Force staff sergeant to bare it all. We should set some rules and standards and live by them not break them and say that there is nothing wrong that its alright to be bad.

[karenn3]

Agnim %u2013 I%u2019d be willing to bet you have been, or will someday be convicted of a *** crime. Read the following vulgar contradictions of the pathetic agnim in both of which he is referring to SSgt. Manhart.

Agnim at 06:38 PM : Jan 12, 2007
%u201CA female finding and living up to her womanhood is something to be cherished.%u201D

Posted by Agnim at 06:29 PM : Jan 12, 2007
"A Ho in Uniform"
"Uncle Sam will have her do you if you enlist now!" LOL

[afgunner-2009]

In the U.S. Air Force you agree not to engage in activities "prejudicial to good order and discipline" as part of the contract that you sign upon enlistment. This is covered under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) listed in the oath of enlistment. Additionally, upon the issue of a previous issue of Playboy (Women in Uniform) the DoD issued written instructions that female military members would not pose for Gentlemen's magazines. SSgt Manhart is responsible for training the newest members of our military including teenagers who are in the process of adapting to military life as well as learning where they fit into today's society. Having appeared in Playboy magazine would severly impact her ability to maintain discipline in the training environment and as such should not and will not be allowed under the rules that all military members have agreed to abide by.

[lhoffman2876]

Article 92 of the UCMJ deals with the failure to obey a lawful order or regulation. AFI 36-2903 page #9 states that you may not wear your uniform for "furthering political activities, private employment, or commercial interests", "working in an off duty capacity".
Posted by ressigmann

I love comments like these...double standards ..do you know how much money the Armed Services (all) made from the filming of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii......so you can wear your uniform to get the Service money but not yourself.......now whats the difference if the pic in uniform was well before and maybe an old boyfried posted pic online how whould the service act then...yes off subject...but I think she's getting screwed.... If you where to go by the UCMJ all of your upper levels of Leadership would be in Levenworth......Good for her tell Uncle Sam to P!$$off...Before you all start saying "I'm a bad soldier" I volunteered and got injured and now am being screwed by the very folks i took a oath to....so ounce again I have seen it they go by the rule's they want....Alter all the others...so they can Scr*w the soldier.......IF YOUR HIGHEST OFFICERS AND GOV'T REFUSE TO FOLLOW ALL GUIDLINES SET FORTH WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THE LOWER RANKS WILL NOT FOLLOW SUIT!!!!....for every one person who going to say I'm wrong there will be 5 others who have been their and have seen in person the do as I say not as I do attitude and actions of the Armed Forces...

[godess078]

Let's not forget that women are going into the battlefield also, usmj. I've been to the desert before

[usmj]

Agnim, when you gain the back bone to do what these men do ...come back and give a true argument...