MP labeling not needed
Sgt. Michael B. Shimer
Letter to the editor
European Stars and Stripes

In the Aug. 15 paper is the article "MP's baby daughter hit by car in housing." Our thoughts are with her and her family, but does the word "MP" need to be used in the headline. Wouldn't "soldier" do fine? If it was a PAC clerk's daughter, would you have written "personnel specialist's daughter...." or "mechanized infantryman's...?"
I understand that as military police we tend to be under the microscope more often than any other soldier. Often it can't be helped. We are not compensated or given any special benefits for being held to a higher standard than others. We simply volunteered to do a necessary job that many take for granted. But I believe it is entirely unnecessary for the Stars and Stripes to play the sensationalism card by using "MP" when it is not necessary.

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