I Hereby Resign in Protest Effective Immediately

[DissidentVoice]

122. Please don't think I'm crazy...even though chances are good I am

I am a Captain in the Civil Air Patrol, the volunteer Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.

I have over 17 years' service. I also served in the Air National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

CAP is a noncombatant volunteer force that supports the Air Force in some of its noncombat missions (search-and-rescue, aerospace education and cadets). None of us are paid, except for some of the Air Force staff that oversees us. Mostly, though, our missions and practice missions are overseen by Reservists, who get drill time credit for doing so.

We wear a modified version of the AF uniform. However, military personnel are not obligated to salute us, even though many do.

Cadets are not obligated to join the military, however, those who do go in at E-3 (Airman 1st Class) once they complete Basic Training.

What is crazy is this: am I doing good volunteer work in the CAP or am I perpetuating the military-industrial complex?

Believe me, I keep my political beliefs under wraps for the most part (aside from the Obama/Biden bumper sticker on my car), as in my experience the vast majority of my colleagues are ardent Republicans. My former CO at a different unit was a good friend, but he had a near-pathological hatred of the Clintons.

I have mostly enjoyed my CAP service and the people I've served with...as long as politics aren't discussed.

Reading this about Brandon Toy has again brought up the perplexing question of "should I continue or not?"

Like I said, chances are good I'm just crazy.