Answer & Explanation:
The lead item on page B1 of last Thursday’s News-Post grabbed my attention. It seems that there are some who think that it’s right and prudent to permit people who are deaf to serve in the military. Being a veteran who served in the Army both as an enlisted man and a commissioned officer, I have concerns.
In the military, uniformity is the name of the game. Commands are given, and everyone must respond. How can a deaf person respond to a command without delay? It’s imperative, yet not possible. I’m fully aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act and “reasonable accommodations.” Is it “reasonable” for the military to assign a person capable of signing to every unit with deaf personnel? Using such a person can create delays. We do need to consider “reasonable.”
The proposal was to start with Air Force officers. My experience with Air Force people is nearly nil, but having both enlisted and commissioned service, I have one pertinent comment to make. Many enlisted people already feel that they have officers who won’t listen to them. Think of their reaction should they have officers who can’t listen. A little humor there, but a serious consideration.
