Inappropriate patch

Airman, July-August, 2008 by Joe Kost

I have always appreciated your articles and the strides you take to cover the amazingly wide variety of skills and occupations our Air Force has to offer. I would also say that your accuracy is spot on 99 percent of the time. And while there may be an occasional inaccuracy, I have never felt the need to single one out. However, the May-June edition's "Airman At War" featured a picture I just can't ignore. On Page 13, you chose to run a picture of a C-130 Hercules pilot wearing an extremely inappropriate "FUBAR" patch, while the only other patch on the captain's uniform was an American flag. Quite the dichotomy. The world's foremost symbol of freedom coupled with a disturbing symbol of vulgarity. Shame on the captain for the poor choice, and poorer representation of the Air Force. And shame on you for running the photograph.

Senior Master Sgt. Joe Kost

Offutt AFB, Neb.

Editor's note: Sergeant Kost, I can assure you we're not in the habit of running inappropriate photographs. This one slipped by inadvertently and for that we're sorry. We've tweaked our review process so this doesn't happen in the future.