Retired Air Force Major robs realtor. Is this worse because he was an Officer?

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:50:34 -0400

I am interested in your thoughts here, so feel free to respond as well as cast your vote....

What's this guy thinking, his retirement is valued at well over $1 million and he is going to risk his reputation to try to rob people....what are you thinking! Then you tie them up and ask for a ransom? Is it worse because he was an Officer or does it even make a difference?

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/real-estate-attacks-retired-air-force-major-arrested-31632823

Video: Retired Air Force Major Arrested in Connection to Real Estate Agent Attacks

Paul Jay Pinkston faces charges of armed robbery and kidnapping with a deadly weapon after being arrested at his Florida home.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 5:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:53:08 -0400

Why someone with a fairly solid retirement would do something like this is beyond me. I can't help but wonder if he was having mental health issues.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 5:59 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:59:44 -0400

Not just because we expect more from our officers, but from our military members in general! Distasteful to say the least!

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 6:14 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 18:14:30 -0400

I don't think any more than an enlisted person, but as a veteran, I'm highly disappointed in him. Veterans and SMs are supposed to be better than that

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 6:34 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 18:34:01 -0400

The is no group that does not have stupidity in its ranks. We had a Navy admiral using counterfeit chips at the casino. Also a Navy Captain shoplifting in the BX.

Still I think it is worse because officers are supposed to set the example.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 9 at 2015 7:33 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 19:33:12 -0400

We expect more from all our service members but being that officers are seen as the more visible line of leadership, it does play out worse in the press.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 9 at 2015 7:38 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 19:38:13 -0400

CSM Michael J. Uhlig I've been trying to figure out a way to compose this for a while. I came up with a couple scenarios, which are contradictory though.

Imagine you have a barracks wing, with an E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6. Each on has their own room. During a random visit, you just find ALL the rooms screwed up. Equally. They're just jacked.

In this situation, of course the E6 is the most jacked up, because he sets the example. It's worse because of his position. He not only set the standard, which was a failure, but he failed each successive step below him. It's like an avalanche of failure.

Now, I had a contradicting example. Two rooms side by side. Two Sergeants. One room is jacked up. The other room is jacked up beyond all recognition. You don't let one Sergeant off because the other one is worse. There's a point where things just "can't get worse." In the case of this article, I think it has reached that point. I don't think it matters what rank they were. It reached the point of "catastrophic failure" to where things are so bad that Officer/Enlisted is no longer pertinent in the discussion.

So... That said, in general yes, we expect more from those we invest more authority in, however there are #%^#^ ups so bad that it doesn't matter if you are a General or a Private, you just became "That #%^ up." This is one of those cases.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 10:01 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 22:01:33 -0400

Anything is worse is it involves an officer. They get paid the big bucks over more experienced people because they are expected to be the final decision maker and upholder of all standards.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jun 9 at 2015 10:31 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 22:31:17 -0400

I voted doesn't matter, but it is a qualified, doesn't matter. Since the options were only Officer or Enlisted. NCO's are technically officers (and the option excluded warrants). My thoughts are that it is worse because it is a career service member who's title ends in "officer".

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 11:17 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 23:17:37 -0400

His actions defame the entire military family. A chain gang in Louisiana is too good for him.

Response by COL Roger Lintz made Jun 9 at 2015 11:31 PM

COL Roger Lintz — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 23:31:08 -0400

I'm absolutely giddy with excitement as I picture in my mind what's about to happen to this Lilly white, pudgy, middle aged, moron when he reports to Federal Prison for kidnapping and using a weapon in the commission of a felony. His "esteemed associates" in the Segregated Housing Unit are going to trade him cheap. His VA disability benefits are now forfeited forever. Bye bye. Thanks for playin.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 10 at 2015 12:48 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 00:48:02 -0400

I think it is bad for anyone, but of course we do expect more from our leaders.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jun 10 at 2015 1:32 AM

TSgt David L. — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 01:32:50 -0400

Wrong, wrong, wrong. It doesn't matter whether officer or enlisted. We are better and expect more from our military members, active or former. WTF was he thinking anyway?

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Jun 10 at 2015 6:25 AM

SGT Rick Ash — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 06:25:53 -0400

It does matter. Officers are supposed to be "Above Reproach"!

Thanks,
Rick

Response by 1SG Frank Rocha made Jun 10 at 2015 8:49 PM

1SG Frank Rocha — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 20:49:07 -0400

Everyone should remind themselves (unless you have brutally honest family who do it already) that you are just a man (or woman). No amount of authority, Rank, Status, fame, etc. will ever change that.

I can see how some of the more impressionable personnel can see certain people within our ranks, or population as larger than life but in the end we are just men (and women).

With that stated, we can sometimes get wrapped around the axle about how larger than life we expect certain people to behave but when they do something that a man would do (A flawed human being capable of making mistakes), we can sometimes pass harsher judgment against them than those we automatically expect to make mistakes.

This man obviously made a mistake. He did not commit this act while in service, let alone while on duty in uniform. He is retired. Served honorably and did his time justly. Let the system judge him unbiasedly no more or less than anyone else who has committed a similar offense.