What would be your gender-neutral alternative to referring to all Air Force members as "airmen"?

I've always felt that the gender-washing efforts serve little purpose beyond pandering to media-driven social frenzies. If we are going to make everything "equal", let's start with physical fitness and job performance equality. I know many women veterans who can lift as much, run as fast, and perform to the same standards that any male can. And yet, we have core expectations that are " less than". How much time will senior leadership spend on something that is all about not hurting feelings? I'd rather see them spend time on issues that ARE hurting the mission. Let's go guys/gals in the leadership posts, set REAL priorities, don't get tempted by this kind of low-hanging fruit.

Another validation of the lack of leadership starting somewhere around the E-Ring and being manifested by the Chiefs - Good order and discipline are tenants of a responsive force. Those who challenge on the basis of "feelings or personal concerns" need to leave for the convenience of the government. Lawyers, ACLU and the like have no place in our chain of command and their interest is unwarranted and should be placed in the appropriate burn bag. I am sure an enemy we defend would take the time to honor a political correctness and/or gender specific issue. Gosh we can't even get solid appreciation for the Geneva Convention - The services are NOT A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT. they are the guarantors of other segments of life to live their silliness. Ron Urrutia, USN RET, LDO-LCDR.

Whomever said AirTrans wins. I choked on my coffee lol

My Dad is retired AF and I am retired Army as well as many other members in my family who have served on multiple continents and in multiple conflict zones throughout the last century and I find these kinds of "questions" offensive and humiliating. Please respect my feelings...........Fricken Ridiculous and completely irrelevant to the mission of the US Military and our Mission at home as well as Globally. What a disgrace, and the world is asking us for help and we can't even help ourselves.

If you don't want to be referred to as airman, don't join the airforce. Why should the airforce change to accommodate your little hurt feelings?

can we refer to those that want to change this as "AIRHEADS"

Have you considered "airman"?

In the Navy males and females alike are called "seamen," which I would think could be a bigger political hot-potato than "airmen."

Alternatively, might I suggest dropping political correctness altogether and go back to the mission of the Air Force?

Ever read "Gone for Soldiers"? It is a fine historical novel by Jeff Shaara. It tells the story of the Mexican American war. Now you might think I have gone off the rails, but wait. Back in that war, there was a military maneuver called "A Demonstration". It is what we would call today a faint or a fake. That's how I view this "man" silliness. It is just a way to distract us and the military from the problem at hand. The crumbling military. Why has there not been an open revolt among the flag ranks? Or are the flag officers not "man" enough (including the women) to say enough is enough?

Keep things like they are. If people have a problem with the titles of military personnel then the choice is simple, don't join our ranks. We are and shall ever be; Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, and Marines. This political correctness makes me want to puke! Please keep it our of our armed forces and let us do our jobs.........

-Semper Fi!

I'm fine with the term airMAN. You'll find the word man in huMAN as well. I'm glad the services are spending resources and time fretting about gender neutrality when we have bigger issues we're facing.