Recently, a female staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force posed nude for Playboy magazine. The photos appear in the February issue, which has probably already hit the news stands but, if not, it will certainly be there next week.

The Air Force brass predictably went into a frantic tailspin and has relieved SSgt. Michelle Manhart, 30, of her duties pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter.

For the record, SSgt. Manhart, is happily married, has two children and is stationed at Lackland Air Base, located near San Antonio, Texas, where she trains new airmen. She joined the Air Force 13 years ago, and spent time serving in Kuwait in 2002, so it seems to me that she has definitely earned her stripes.

SSgt. Manhart did not make a big secret of her posing for Playboy, which leads us to wonder what there is a need for the Air Force to investigate in this matter. She has been open about it, so what is there to investigate?

A spokesman for Lackland Air Base issued the following statement to reporters: "This staff sergeant's alleged action does not meet the high standards we expect of our airmen, nor does it comply with the Air Force's core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence in all we do."

SSgt. Manhart told Playboy she considers herself to be standing up for her rights. One of which would be her constitutional right to freedom of expression, which is covered under freedom of speech.

"Of what I did, nothing is wrong, so I didn't anticipate anything, of course," Manhart recently told the Associated Press. "I didn't do anything wrong, so I didn't think it would be a major issue."

We agree. Certainly the Air Force has much more "major issues" to spend its time and the taxpayers' dollars on than the fact that SSgt. Manhart posed for Playboy.