Air Force gets Infantry rope
Yeah, I looked everywhere for an indication that this is satire, and if it is, I missed it. The article is a month and a half old, but it’s new to me. From af.mil;
Starting Oct. 15, selected Airmen will begin wearing teal ropes — the color symbolizing sexual assault awareness and support — within the student population. Teal rope members receive specialized training by the SAPRO staff and serve as a link between non-prior service students and SAPRO for information and referral support.
Involvement in the program is open to students who have a minimum of two months left in their training. Students must be recommended by their military training leader, pass a background check and maintain an 80 percent grade point average to be accepted into the program. Teal rope members are expected to model the Air Force core values; uphold the highest standards of professionalism as representatives of the SAPRO; and be an approachable, listening ear for their wingmen in times of need.
“This program is so important because it helps raise awareness among our newest Airmen, and they will carry that knowledge throughout their careers,” said Chief Master Sgt. Angelica Johnson, 81st Training Wing command chief. “This is an opportunity for Airmen to be leaders and help regulate their fellow Airmen on an important issue. It’s also a chance for Airmen to go to a peer they may be more comfortable with, which assists the overall prevention efforts across the base.”
All Airmen deserve an environment that is free from sexual harassment and sexual assault, and a culture where they can be treated with dignity and respect.
Was infantry blue the only color they could find for their cord? And just so the Air Force knows, calling it “teal” doesn’t make it all right.
Category: Air Force
Oops just saw that 28 pretty much already said that, and so much better.
@50.
No, we’re not overreacting. Just having some fun. We get it. The AF isn’t being singled out. It’s their harebrained idea so they get the spitballs. The other day the Army caught theirs for the politically correct Audie Murphy crest or whatever it was.
Soldier: “Hey, airman, what’s that rope for?”
Airman: “Oh, that means I’m a sexual assault and response leader.”
Soldier: ‘Bwahahahahahahahaha.”
I gotcha 52, trust me, I get front row seats to some of the ridiculous things that get tossed around being that I’m IN the actual Air Force. Today I was reading an MFR signed by one of the heads of the uniform policy council, who was a civilian… just seems a bit ridiculous to me to have a civilian on the uniform wear policy board… Then I saw what we were wearing and it made some sense.
OMFG- This is just EMBARRASSING.
I was a yellow rope in tech Training at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls AND I was a White rope (WTF- White? – It’s classified… {;-D)
FYI——–
Red – (Shift Leaders) are responsible for all Airmen assigned to a shift or squadron.
Yellow – (Floor Chief and Flight Leaders) are typically responsible for all Airmen assigned to a dormitory floor and/or flight.
Green – (Bay Chiefs and Element Leaders) are typically responsible for all Airmen assigned to a dormitory bay and/or element.
Black – Drill Team
White – Chapel Assistant
———-
And this is just more PC Crap from my beloved PC AF.
Just think of it as our version of the Army’s reflective belt.
This is probably next:
http://www.belts.breflective.com/rainbow/rainbow.jpg
@ 49, just make sure the Air Force doesn’t get the color “aquamarine”!
Then everything goes to hell!
@52. Excellent attitude! Just be sure never to speak your mind to the true believers.
Sorry. Talking to myself again. Comment 56 was for 53, not 52.
Hmmmm, Infantry cord qualifies me to charge the zoomies for wall-to-wall counseling!?! My graduation from FAOAC in addition to IOAC just proves that an 11Bravo can be trained for anything.
shows they were trained in sexual harassment – meaning they are proficient in it? Nice of them to warn all the female zoomies like that.
Why not just give them a friggin panda suit?
Dude. It ain’t Infantry Blue … unless my monitor is out of calibration.
As for all the rest … it’s the Air Force …
@49 Yat Yas 1833: True, there is a certain elegance in simplicity.
I learned to drive, showing my age, in my dad’s TEAL 62′ Electra 225. The rope is blue! All for education in the military but that rope is about the silliest thing I’ve seen in a long long time.
Honor and Courage
Infantry blue and handicap placards that hang from people’s rearview mirrors are the same shade. Coincidence?
@63, different shade of blue, but touche anyway.
Thanks for the clarification AverageNCO.
Still, it will be lost on those rushing to judgment about these sorts of things.
Guys, that’s NOT an infantry cord:
The color isn’t even particularly close.
I’m pretty sure most of us realised it was a different shade.
Ebenezer Hondo is spoiling our fun. 🙂
Hondo close enough to give infantry shit…
Twist: fair enough. But I’m not sure everyone did.
JPJ: of course. (smile)
I still think they ought to be issued panda suits.
Just sayin.
Hey Jonn the Army needs to revoke your blue cord and have the Air Force issue you one of those teal jobs, since you’re all about sensitivity.
WOW! Im glad im on the verge of retirement! Im not sure how much more of this jackassery i can take! For all you Army guys…just relax, it wont take long till they change the name to air superiority blue!
Why not “chartreuse color” cords.
My turning blue ceremony was in a waist deep swamp on Ft. Benning……..this is about like Air Force Security Forces calling themselves the “Infantry of the Air Force”. Horseshit.
@73 popsmoke, “Infantry of the Air Farce?!? WTF!!! as an Amtracer I was more Infantry than any zoomie MP!?! In the Marine Corps we’re “riflemen first”. Every quarter 99.9% of everyone had to spend time training as a grunt, at least back in the day (the ’70s). Forced marches, squad & platoon tactics, land nav, defensive tactics, etc. If memory serves the first few days were serious then we had some fun. Enlisted vs Officers, Plt vs Plt, Co vs Co, etc. “Infantry of the Air Farce”??? Stop it Smalls, yer killing me!?
Yat Yas 1833, picked up the topic on this thread: USAF Security Forces ARE the USAF Infantry
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3321924461/m/9470014982001
Due to OPSEC I will not reveal the location of the Air Force Base. I recently drove by the entry control point and observed a non SP checking I.D. while propping himself up with a sham stick….so much for the Air Force Infantry.
popsmoke, I saw what the Air Force was when I was at 29 Palms in ’78. There was a JFX and everyone was playing. The AF was operating out of Dead Mans Lake. They had these huge tents with cots and pot-belly heaters, we were in shelter halves, pup tents. They had a field kitchen, we ate c-rations. They did shift changes, we operated for 18 hours a day. Yeah, they’re hard core Infantry.
“Oh, boo hoo! Someone is wearing our blue rope! Now we’re not SPECIAL anymore!”
What is the difference, really?
@78
If you don’t yet understand the value of having earned something, I doubt anyone here can explain it to you.
ImanAzol, I always loved your work. I am also a big David Bowie fan. However, I am not sure you are qualified to comment on military uniform issues. Care to share any fashion tips?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iman_%28model%29
Yat Yas 1833, Oh yea, I hopped a MAC flight out of McGuire, AFB in 1978. I could not believe the barracks and mess hall. We had those old WWII wooden bastards. Was on 30 day leave prior to PCS and stopped at a local base to get paid. Reported to finance. Outside, Air Force enlisted were milling about with hands in their pockets smoking and joking. One base recently did away with “To the colors” when sounding reveille. This bunch cannot take one freaking minute to render the hand salute. They decided to follow AFI 34-1201 8.1.6.2. in July. The colors have flown 24/7 for years. I just don’t get it.
http://www.tinker.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123309688
This is the epitome of the pussification of my country. Next they will have pink laces and blousers to signify gay pride.
This is not exactly a sexual awareness rope…. They did an awful job describing it, they left out the main reason for it. It is a rope for airmen that want to step up and basically become a counselor. It signifies that they are a part of the SASH program and are a trustworthy airmen that can help them with any problems that have occur during tech school. Sexual harassment is a huge growing problem in the Air Force and in any military branch at the moment. They are trying to do what ever they can to help and protect their younger and new airmen. New airmen are afraid to come to an MTL (Military Training Leader) or an NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer). So this is clearly for an airmen who is having problems with sexual harassment or assault to be able to come to another airmen that is near the same rank/pay grade or of the same age. It is to help our younger airmen who get taken advantage of or hurt by this. It truly does help though and is a really good idea. Shows a lot of responsibility to keep that type of confidentiality. A lot more than a black or white rope.
I’m currently at Sheppard AFB and these little SAPR ropes are everywhere. Technically they’re “teal” and they’re also a running joke here on the base. They make more sexual comments than any of the other ropes. In addition,they are NOT allowed to counsel members that have been assaulted. Their only job as a “teal rope” is to direct the assaulted member to the SARC office or the Chaplain. It is not a good idea and they have hardly any responsibility. I have the “wing teal rope” sitting right next to me…
@83. “Sexual harassment is a huge growing problem in the Air Force and in any military branch at the moment.”
Oh bullshit. Keep that glass full. They never run out of Kool Aid. YOU are part of the problem.
It may be a slightly different shade of blue than my Infantry cord… but not enough to keep me from ripping it off the shoulder of any zoomie i see wearing it and choking him/unconcious with it