Casket photo an inside joke

This photo, posted on Facebook and dated Aug. 23, shows a group of airmen at Fort. Lee, Va. ARMY TIMES/FACEBOOK This photo, posted on Facebook and dated Aug. 23, shows a group of airmen at Fort. Lee, Va. ARMY TIMES/FACEBOOK Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Casket photo an inside joke 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The Air Force said Monday it would not charge trainees who posed for a photo that included one of them pretending to be dead in a transfer case — the kind used for fallen troops.

An investigation by an officer from Lackland AFB's 37th Training Group found that the photo of the airmen, who were learning to palletize and load cargo planes, was an inside joke.

The airman in the casket had a rope around his neck used to stop a plane or vehicle from rolling. A chain, used to secure pallets, was draped over his body.

The idea was to make light of repeated instructions from trainers to lock down pallets, a spokesman said. The airman's “death” was a result of his own neglect in not properly doing his job.

“Was it poor judgment? Yes,” said Gerry Proctor.

“It was unfortunate for them the message was very cryptic. The public didn't understand it.”

The Aug. 23 photo of airmen with the 345th Training Squadron at Fort Lee, Va., came to light in December and prompted speculation about its meaning. The Lackland training group oversees the unit.

In the photo, tech sergeants and staff sergeants stand with junior airmen around the student in the transfer case. A logo in the upper left corner of the snapshot says “All American Port Dawgs.” “Port Dog” is a nickname for aerial porters.

“Da Dumpt, Da Dumpt ..... Sucks 2 Be U” is written in the class photo. The phrase refers to the sound of a pallet as it is taken between the aircraft and a loading vehicle.

The Air Force could not initially explain the photo's meaning, but the incident occurred in the wake of revelations that the Air Force's Port Mortuary at Dover AFB, Del., had lost and mishandled fallen troops' remains.

The training group launched an investigation. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley called the photo inconsistent with the service's core values and worried it “may cause additional grief to the families of our fallen warriors.”

A training group statement said no criminal conduct occurred. The group's commander, Col. Gregory Reese, said administrative actions were taken “documenting that their conduct brought discredit to both the military and themselves.” The actions could have included such things as verbal or written counseling and reprimands.

“The class photo brought strong public reaction and seemed to slight our fallen heroes,” a training group statement said. “The message had powerful, but cryptic visuals, leaving the interpretation open.”

Maj. Gen. Leonard Patrick, commander of the 2nd Air Force, which oversees technical training operations, said students and instructors have been reminded “they should maintain their professional bearing when using social media.” The image appeared on Facebook in October after a friend was tagged in the photo.

The 37th Training Wing's commander, Col. Eric Axelbank, said he issued a policy shortly after he learned of the incident requiring class photography and memorabilia to be reviewed by squadron commanders. The policy applies to all Air Force technical training units at Fort Lee and five other installations that report to the wing.

“While the members involved were expressing their creativity by taking a candid class photo,” he said in a statement, “they lost sight of our core values and the messages they would broadcast while in uniform.”

sigc@express-news.net