General Stupidity
General stupidity
David Edwards
UP FRONT
As PARTING SHOTS GO, THIS ONE GETS a bye-run straight into the Hissy Fit Hall of Fame, Military Division. On the eve of his retirement from the Air Force, four-star General Walter Kross centered motorcycling in his radar cross-hairs, acquired tone, and let loose with a salvo of incriminations about our sport.
“As I reach the doorstep of retirement, I take time to reflect on the precious gift of life,” began the general in a bizarre memorandum about off-duty motorcycle riding. “Mere words cannot express my feelings concerning the fatalities we’ve experienced as a result of motorcycle mishaps. Just this fiscal year, the Air Force has lost 11 individuals. While these numbers may seem small compared to previous years, they represent human beings, lost forever to their families and friends.”
Notice that while working himself into a lather over motorcycle deaths, the good general failed to mention just how many Air Force personnel had been lost in automobile accidents during the year (undoubtedly more than 11). Still in Mother Hen mode, Kross added, “Riding motorcycles is a high-risk gamble...high-powered sport cycles are even more dangerous-who really needs a vehicle that will do 150 mph?” That old saw again.
Okay, so we’ve got some do-nothing short-timer desk jockey popping off about motorcycles, so what, right?
Not that easy. Turns out Kross, with 34 years of distinguished service, 100 F-4 combat missions over North Vietnam and a chest full of ribbons, is a Big Cheese. As in chief of Air Mobility Command (AMC), responsible for the nation’s defense-transportation requirements. He’s the man who made sure Desert Storm got to the desert. A lot of people report to General Kross-or did, before his retirement this past September.
His memo continued: “I charge each AMC commander and supervisor to identify their personnel who ride motorcycles, then sit down with them to ensure they understand the associated risks. Ask them the following questions from me:
1) Have you applied operational risk management to one of the deadliest threats you face?
2) Can you obtain alternative, safer transportation, especially at night or during inclement weather?
3) Have you completed a comprehensive motorcycle safety rider class?
4) Do you own and use proper personal protective equipment?
5) Do you realize that you’re even more vulnerable when you’re intoxicated, tired, stressed or over the speed limit?”
Motorcycling, one of the deadliest threats? Hell, even my mom wasn’t that melodramatic.
“The bottom line is that riding motorcycles poses a significantly greater risk to individual safety than driving an automobile,” Kross continued. “We discourage the use of tobacco because of the documented risk. Let’s now do the same for motorcycles...at least if our people ride them we will have insured (sic) they do it responsibly.”
Now we have one of the Air Force’s top brass, clearly laying down antimotorcycle guidelines, encouraging his officers to identify, lecture to and then dissuade USAF personnel from riding bikes. And he wasn’t done yet.
Homing in on the heart strings, Kross concluded, “For your personnel who continue to accept this unnecessary risk, you might urge them to think of others-each time they climb on a motorcycle. They should ask themselves what sorrow, loss and extra work their premature death might have on their family, friends and co-workers. Let’s save some lives with our interest.”
Cue the violins.
Made aware of Kross’ memo and tipped off that “target lists” of riders were being compiled, the American Motorcyclist Association fired off a letter to the Department of the Air Force asking for some clarification on the issue.
“Can you inform us if, in fact, the Air Force has adopted an anti-motorcycling policy,” legitimately asked the AMA. “If this is not the case, we respectfully request...(that) commanders refrain from interrogating, discouraging or otherwise harassing their motorcycling personnel.”
In a reply, Major General Francis Gideon, chief of safety, said, “I want to assure you there is no attempt by the Air Force to abridge the rights of Air Force personnel to operate motorcycles...no intent by the Air Force to adopt an anti-motorcycling policy.” The Air Force fell well short, however, of denouncing Kross.
“He wrote as a commander deeply concerned about the tragic loss of life in motorcycle mishaps of three airmen serving under his command,” said Gideon. “If there are any perceived excesses in General Kross’ message, I believe they are as a result of the deep personal loss he must have experienced as a commander, and his abiding concern for the welfare of his people. As such, his message needs no apologies.”
Compassion in a military leader is much-desired and to be applauded, but excesses of compassion are just that-excesses. Kross was out of line when he wrote of the accidents that took the lives of his men, “Three AMC airmen are dead because they rode motorcycles for the apparent benefits of freedom, economy and personal choice!”
Apparent benefits!?! I suppose we can debate ease of purchase, high fuel mileage, minimal impact on highway infrastructure, etc. that make up a motorcycle’s overall economy of operation, General. But last time I looked, two of the Constitutional rights the U.S. Air Force is charged with protecting are freedom and personal choice! Pretty much a cornerstone of the American way of life, worth fighting for don’t you think?
Enjoy your retirement, sir, nice to have you out of the system. □
