{"id":24565,"date":"2018-11-30T22:39:30","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T22:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/11\/30\/wheres-the-beef-should-air-crews-crude-phallic-drawings-have-cost-b-52-commander-his-job\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:43:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:43:28","slug":"wheres-the-beef-should-air-crews-crude-phallic-drawings-have-cost-b-52-commander-his-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/11\/30\/wheres-the-beef-should-air-crews-crude-phallic-drawings-have-cost-b-52-commander-his-job\/","title":{"rendered":"Where\u2019s the beef? Should air crews\u2019 crude phallic drawings have cost B-52 commander his job?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From ancient Roman barracks to Port-a-Jons at today\u2019s Afghanistan air bases, anywhere troops are deployed and bored, it\u2019s not hard to find crude, sexually themed graffiti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why did one Air Force squadron commander \u2014 by all accounts, a successful and respected combat leader \u2014 find himself out of a job due to his airmen\u2019s, let\u2019s say, artistic proclivities? Was it the right move?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Col. Paul Goossen was removed from command of the 69th Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota Tuesday \u201cdue to a loss of trust and confidence from his failure to maintain a professional workplace environment,\u201d the base said in a release that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As commander of the expeditionary squadron during its deployment last year to the Middle East<\/a>, Goossen oversaw nearly 6,000 hours of B-52 combat flights that pounded the Islamic State and Taliban with more than 2,300 bombs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite, the pace of operations during the nearly nine-month deployment to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, during their down time his air crew members had a habit of drawing crude stick figures<\/a> with penises. After a CD containing a slideshow with some of the drawings was found in a vehicle, a commander-directed investigation into the drawings ensued, resulting in a sharply worded report that cost Goossen his command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maj. Natassia Cherne, head of public affairs for the 5th Bomb Wing, said in a statement Thursday that \u201cany actions or behaviors that do not embody our values and principles are not tolerated within the Air Force. This includes creating or contributing to an unhealthy, inappropriate work environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military.com on Thursday first reported<\/a> that the CDI found penis drawings had been made on the squadron\u2019s B-52\u2032s map software. Minot released a redacted version of the report to the press Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goossen was apparently respected by airmen in the squadron, and was seen as a good leader during the August 2017 to April 2018 deployment. Senior leaders and deployed air crew members didn\u2019t report any problems with a negative climate or culture while deployed, the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Lt. Col. Paul Goossen, shown here during a Christmas Eve conference call with President Trump in 2017, was removed from command of the 69th Bomb Squadron Nov. 27, 2018. (Staff Sgt. Patrick Evenson\/Air National Guard)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIndications were that the Lt. Col. Goossen emphasized taking care of each other [and] focus on the mission,\u201d the report said. \u201cExamples of his priorities were obvious through his notes while deployed, prudent actions to take care of discipline issues, and testimony from members that who [sic] were confident in the squadron commander and other senior leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the 69th returned from its deployment, the Air Force touted its accomplishments, including launching 834 straight missions without any maintenance cancellations, and contributing to a two-year run of B-52 flights that surpassed records that had stood since the Vietnam War\u2019s Operation Linebacker II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offensive, or morale-building fun?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the phallic drawings were made using MS Paint on the B-52s’ cockpit computers. And \u201cthere were no actual photographs of genitals, only stick figure type drawings,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An unnamed witness told investigators that the drawings \u201cwere not malicious or sexually explicit, demeaning or directed toward anybody in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey were drawn to see how funny, creative and artistic people could be; they gave the crew something to laugh at and keep morale high,\u201d the report summarized that witness\u2019 perspective. \u201cThe drawings were viewed by many as \u2018art\u2019 [redacted], it would not have happened if anybody was offended.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t