Playboy-Posing Sergeant Relieved Of Duty

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.