Michelle Manhart
Encyclopedia
Michelle Manhart is a former United States Air Force
Military Training Instructor
based at Lackland Air Force Base
in San Antonio
, Texas
, holding the rank of Staff Sergeant. In January 2007 she was relieved of duty
and placed under investigation for posing nude in Playboy
magazine. She has since been demoted to Senior Airman
, a move which caused her to resign from the Air Force.
Manhart, a California native, joined the Air Force in 1994, and is married with two children. When her husband was assigned to Waterloo
, Iowa
as an Air Force recruiter, she transferred to the Iowa Air National Guard
. After the September 11, 2001 attacks
she was recalled to active duty, and spent time deployed to Kuwait
in 2002.
She was photograph
ed for Playboy' s February 2007 issue in uniform, partially clothed and completely nude. According to the Air Force, such actions do not meet standards of integrity.
She is a part-time columnist for Canadian news site, Orato
, where she is known as 'The Naked Reporter'.
According to Playboy publicist Theresa Hennessey, two other active-duty servicewomen (both from the United States Navy
) appeared in Playboy, Lieutenant Frederica Spilman in the June 1998 issue and IT2 Sherry Lynne White in the September 2000 issue. (White was discharged
a few months prior to the end of her enlistment, Spilman was honorably discharged.) Seven women were featured in a "Women of the Armed Forces" pictorial in the April 1980 issue.
, Japan
and Western Europe
and was recently announced the new international spokesmodel for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
’ “I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” campaign. She is also on the cover of a 2008 pin-up style calendar
, published by Operation Calendar
, featuring models in body paint.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Military Training Instructor
Drill instructor
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the armed forces or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of indoctrinating new recruits entering the military into the customs and...
based at Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, holding the rank of Staff Sergeant. In January 2007 she was relieved of duty
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
and placed under investigation for posing nude in Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine. She has since been demoted to Senior Airman
Senior Airman
Senior airman is the fourth enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above airman first class and below staff sergeant. It has a pay grade of E-4...
, a move which caused her to resign from the Air Force.
Manhart, a California native, joined the Air Force in 1994, and is married with two children. When her husband was assigned to Waterloo
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
as an Air Force recruiter, she transferred to the Iowa Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
. After the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
she was recalled to active duty, and spent time deployed to Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in 2002.
She was photograph
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
ed for Playboy
She is a part-time columnist for Canadian news site, Orato
Orato
Orato is an international news Web site that showcases first person accounts from the protagonists and witnesses of events.It was recognized as one of the top 12 news websites in the world by the 2008 Webby Awards, called the Oscars of the Internet by The New York Times, receiving approximately...
, where she is known as 'The Naked Reporter'.
Precedent and disciplinary action
Reference to Michelle Manhart's case appears in an academic article authored by Major Kelly L. McGovern in the March 2008 issue of The Army Lawyer. To quote, "Former Air Force Drill Sergeant Michelle Manhart posed in and out of uniform for the February 2007 edition of Playboy magazine. Photos included Manhart in uniform yelling and holding weapons under the headline, 'Tough Love'. On the subsequent pages, Manhart appeared 'partially clothed, wearing her dog tags while working out, as well as completely nude.' The pictures hit the stands in January 2007, and the Air Force immediately relieved her of her duties pending an investigation. The Air Force then took administrative action against Manhart. She received a letter of reprimand for violating the uniform regulation and discrediting the armed forces. The Air Force also administratively demoted Manhart from staff sergeant to senior airman. In February, she was voluntarily discharged from the Air Force citing reasons of personal convenience."According to Playboy publicist Theresa Hennessey, two other active-duty servicewomen (both from the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
) appeared in Playboy, Lieutenant Frederica Spilman in the June 1998 issue and IT2 Sherry Lynne White in the September 2000 issue. (White was discharged
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
a few months prior to the end of her enlistment, Spilman was honorably discharged.) Seven women were featured in a "Women of the Armed Forces" pictorial in the April 1980 issue.
Modeling career
In addition to Playboys February 2007 issue, Manhart has appeared on the covers of Playboy MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
and was recently announced the new international spokesmodel for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights...
’ “I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” campaign. She is also on the cover of a 2008 pin-up style calendar
Calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, and years. The name given to each day is known as a date. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not...
, published by Operation Calendar
Operation Calendar
Operation Calendar in 1942 was an Anglo-American operation in World War II to deliver Spitfire fighter aircraft to Malta. The aircraft were desperately needed to bolster the island's defence against strong Axis air raids.-Background:...
, featuring models in body paint.
See also
- Air Force AmyAir Force AmyAir Force Amy is a legal prostitute in Nevada, pornographic actress, and adult model, considered the top earner of all time in Nevada's legalized brothel business, and known as the star of the HBO television documentary series Cathouse: The Series...
- Carol ShayaCarol ShayaCarol J. Shaya-Castro is a former New York City police officer and actress whose employment was terminated after she appeared in the August 1994 issue of Playboy magazine.- Personal life :...
- Barbara SchantzBarbara SchantzBarbara Schantz was a police officer in Springfield, Ohio when she appeared nude in the May 1982 issue of Playboy. Her pictorial was photographed by staff photographer Pompeo Posar. She was born in Enon, Ohio. According to the text accompanying the pictorial, she married at 17, divorced less than...
External links
- Story on San Antonio television station (video)
- Playboy's response