Sgt. Strips for Playboy, May Be Stripped of Duty

Jan. 13, 2007 — -- After stripping off her clothes, Staff Sgt. Michelle Manhart may be stripped of her military career.

Manhart, a married mother of two who has served in the Air Force for nearly 13 years, is under investigation for posing nude in the upcoming issue of Playboy magazine.

Manhart defended her actions on Saturday's "Good Morning America Weekend Edition."

Asked by ABC's Bill Weir whether she anticipated the military investigation, she said "no, not at all." Though Manhart has seen similar action taken against military women who posed nude, she doesn't see the problem with baring all.

"It seems there are several women of all different jobs … the Navy, a police officer, and several other jobs, that have been relieved of their duties, and I guess I don't understand why," she said.

In a statement, the Air Force said that Manhart's posing nude goes against the organization's standards.

"The 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," the statement said.

Sergeant Says Playboy Pictorial Is Art

Manhart said that her pictorial, and the possibility of her subordinates seeing it, does not undermine her authority or conflict with the Air Force's core values.

"If you want to say that, you could say if you walk in accidentally on your mother in the shower, does that mean you lose respect for her?" she said.

Manhart believes the nude body is an art form and should be appreciated as such. In her mind, the Air Force's point of view is old-fashioned.

"I think it's old-fashioned to think that a woman can't pose without looking at it as a form of art," she said.

Manhart comes from a military family -- her grandfather, father and husband all served in the military. She said they're backing her through the investigation.

"All of my family is very supportive," she said. "When it's pertaining to your goals, your life, your dreams, they're going to support you."

For many years, Manhart dreamed of breaking into modeling and acting. She has wanted to appear in Playboy since she was 12 years old, and many times sent the magazine photos in hopes of making the cut.

But she never envisioned her military career ending because of her modeling aspirations.

"I've been in the Air Force for over 12 years now," she said. "And I've been modeling before that and during that. And at no time did I anticipate leaving the Air Force until … things changed in my life."

Manhart has been relieved of her duties while the Air Force investigates her case. Playboy's six-page spread of the sergeant will hit newsstands this week.