Well, I got exactly what I expected.

Please note that any objective person would definitely NOT consider an 0-6
briefing during formal training to be the same thing as a presentation of
any facts. I don't think I'm being unreasonable in setting the bar a little
higher than that. A bunch of O-6s mouthing the party line during a briefing
is somewhat underwhelming; and certainly would not constitute "facts" by any
stretch of the imagination.

Your first-person anecdotal experience (three years worth at one unit)
carries more weight (marginally so) than the first "evidence." I can
certainly accept that a single individual (and his circle of associates)
would provide the socially desirable responses required of the position,
however. This bias is certainly problematic of all anecdotal reports, and
is particularly troublesome when combined with socially desirable responding
as is the case here.

Here are some additional confounds (the most serious) to actually addressing
this issue in an objective sense:

1) We are talking about relatively rare events in the first place (making
individual experiences unique)
2) The wall came down in 1988, having a great impact on missile duty
(limiting the time available for study)
3) Gender integration was not a singular event; it was rolled in over time
(making "before & after" comparisons difficult)
4) The data themselves are time series data

Add to that the most serious confound of socially desirable responding and
you have quite a problem here. Oh, did I mention that studying the topic is
in itself taboo? Apparently, the USAF does not allow any studies to be
performed in this area.

Interesting, is it not?

Steve Swartz


"BUFDRVR" wrote in message
...
Great. With an attitude like that, you'll be the next Chief of Staff.

I don't have an attitude, I just provide facts.

O.K., where did you get *your* numbers (showing no changes in
fraternization, infidelity, or divorce)?

During the first few days of Undergraduate Space & Missile Training you go
through an orientation course where you discuss (in the presence of a
panel
which includes a few chaplains and senior Space & Missile
leaders,typically O-6
Group or Wing Commanders) various topics, including gender integration.
The
statistics were presented and in fact, the discussion on gender
integration is
open to any spouses as well. When I went through, a few guys brought their
wives, none of whom seemed concerned by the prospect of their husband
being
buried 150' below ground with another woman.

Where did you get your "facts"?

I didn't even bring up the changes in data from the Quality of Life
surveys
yet . . .

I'm eagerly awaiting your data. I spent three years as a Minuteman III
Combat
Crewmember. In those three years I knew of one person who had issues with
gender integration. Interestingly enough, he was in the same squadron as
this
last yahoo. Unlike the last yahoo, this guy never made captain and ended
his
career four years after it began. Of course, he didn't get the publicity
of
this latest guy, but the story is nearly identical. But the bottom line,
out of
the hundreds of crewmembers I knew, and the hundreds of wives (and a few
husbands), there was a problem with *one*. If you try to provide some
"data"
that says the quality of life surveys mention gender integration in a
negative
way, I'll know you're full of it.


BUFDRVR

"Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it
harelips
everyone on Bear Creek"