It's not pretty or painless, but holding people to account is absolutely necessary for the California National Guard to restore its honor and regain public trust.
The latest reckoning is the disciplining of a dozen pilots who padded their pay through a practice known as "dozing for dollars." They put in for military-alert duty at full pay – often relaxing or even sleeping while awaiting a scramble alarm – immediately after getting paid for a shift as civilian pilots with the Fresno-based 144th Fighter Wing.
The Bee's Charles Piller, whose earlier investigations exposed the improper compensation, reported Monday that federal authorities will seek to recover about $450,000 from the officers. That sum would have been higher, except the statute of limitations prevents recouping payments issued before 2006.
After a lengthy probe by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations that was prompted by The Bee's stories, the Guard says that six pilots received letters of reprimand, while the others received lesser admonishments.
None faces criminal charges; the Guard says there was no intentional fraud.
There was, however, a serious "failure of leadership," says David S. Baldwin, the adjutant general of the California National Guard.
Since being appointed in April, Baldwin has been trying to clean up the mess left behind by leaders who let too many lucrative improprieties go on for too long. They did not do their duty.
Even if it means airing dirty laundry and ending some military careers, Baldwin and his top aides have to do theirs.
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