An Air Force non-commissioned officer has been suspended from her supervisory role at the 99th Force Support Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, after making racially insensitive comments about subordinates in a Facebook video.
Tech. Sgt. Geraldine Lovely remains under investigation as base leadership "continue to gather facts regarding this incident," Maj. Christina Sukach, spokeswoman for the 99th Air Base Wing, said in a statement Monday.
"Leadership are exploring disciplinary actions and are checking to see if this is a broader issue on the base," Sukach told Military.com in an email.
Using "Facebook Live" as a platform to vent about her work environment, Lovely recently made profane slurs against black female subordinates.
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The video, which was posted to a private group page called "Nellis Burn Book," was eventually sent to the public Facebook group Air Force Amn/nco/snco, which is popular within the Air Force but isn't officially run by the service.
Related Video: (warning: strong language)
Executives for the page said Lovely works at the base's fitness center as an administrator.
The NCO questions her subordinates' attitudes in the profane-laced video rant.
These "f---ing issues with my airmen and my NCOs, that are lower ranking than me, but they're black females. And it pisses me the f--- off that they have no f---ing respect and constantly having an attitude, and what the f--- is up with that?" Lovely says in the video.
"Like I'm trying my best to hold my professionalism with them, but good God, that they don't have f---ing respect whatsoever. Everytime I talk to them, [imitating the airmen] 'No, ma'am,' " she says.
She continues, "It's just like, they're talking down to me. And I'm trying to tread lightly as a higher-ranking NCO not to f---ing blow the f--- up and start a fight club."
The video was posted Sunday evening and has more than 8,300 shares and nearly 1 million views, according to the Amn/nco/snco page's statistics as of Monday night.
Lovely did not immediately return a request for comment from Military.com.
After the video began circulating, Lovely commented on the Nellis Burn Book page, "Thank you for ruining my career," according to screenshots provided to Military.com.
According to another screenshot, in a separate comment on the Amn/nco/snco page, she posted, "Are you kidding me? How dare you post this when the issue was settled and I apologized that I worded my rant inappropriate without thinking."
The issue sparked many debates between former and current airmen on Amn/nco/snco.
"All African-American women don't have attitudes ... you're just intimidated which is not our issue, it's yours," wrote one poster. "This isn't just for her, but for the ones I've encountered too. Learn how to be an effective leader and not just wear the rank."
Sukach herself commented in the comments' string that Lovely displayed "unacceptable behavior in today's society & especially for anyone in uniform."
Another airman replied to Sukach, saying, "If you truly are NAFB PA, reassure us that this so-called 'NCO' is recalled from what seems to be a TDY/deployed location, counseled on her behavior (LOC/R), and not allowed to re-enlist … My family(dad, me, wife) has over 74 yrs of combined USAF service ...We are infuriated at, and ashamed of this [airman]."
Many Facebook posters called for the incident to be a learned lesson, not just for Lovely, but for all airmen.
"TSgt Lovely you got issues with your troops, (which everyone has) then talk with your peers on how to correct the situation or how to approach the problem better," one wrote.
Sukach told Military.com separately, "While the actions of this individual are inappropriate and unacceptable, we are using this unfortunate situation to continue a dialogue with our Airmen about the topic of good order and discipline, as well as adherence to the Air Force Core Values."
-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
