Editorial: Allow all applications (astronauts)

[unhappycamper]

Editorial: Allow all applications

The Navy is barring 10 officer communities from applying to become astronauts in this year’s upcoming board, including explosive ordnance disposal technicians, SEALs, judge advocates general and civil engineers.

Navy officials say the reason is “critical inventory shortfalls” among these officers, or because their skill sets are considered vital for the “global war on terrorism.”

To be sure, many officers with these skill sets are in high demand, and the manning challenges in the EOD and SEAL communities are well-known.

But tell that to Lt. Cmdr. Michael Runkle, an EOD officer who joined the Navy with dreams of becoming an astronaut and now has been told his application isn’t welcome. Sure, he could apply for a waiver to go before the board, but all that does is create another roadblock in the already arduous process of entering the program.

More galling, however, is that after the Navy chooses its 50 officers, officials expect a whopping two or three of them to be selected for astronaut training for NASA. The Navy can’t spare three officers?


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/community/opinion/navy_editorial_astronaut_041408/