An airman who posted a profane Facebook video in which she made racially charged comments has been punished, officials at Nellis Air Force Base said.
“In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Geraldine Lovely was held accountable for her actions,” Maj. Christina Sukach, chief of public affairs for the 99th Air Base Wing at Nellis, said in a statement Wednesday. “While specifics on this case can’t be released, 99th Air Base Wing leadership is satisfied with the outcome.”
Tech. Sgt. Geraldine Lovely of the 99th Force Support Squadron at the Nevada air force base posted a video of her in-uniform rant Jan. 26, in which she claimed black female airmen and noncommissioned officers had attitude problems.
“It pisses me the [expletive] off that they [black female airmen] have no [expletive] respect and constantly having an attitude,” Lovely said in the video. “What the [expletive] is up with that? ... Why is it that every time I encounter, you know, my subordinates that are black females, they have a giant [expletive] attitude?”
The Facebook Live video, which was originally broadcast within a secret group for Nellis airmen, went viral within days after it was reposted on the unofficial Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page.
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At the time, Sukach commented on the video, calling it “inappropriate and unacceptable behavior,” especially for someone in uniform, and said leadership at the base was taking action.
Lovely was soon removed from her supervisory role and placed under investigation.
It remains unknown whether Lovely is still a technical sergeant. Sukach’s original statement did not refer to Lovely by her rank. When asked what rank Lovely is now, Sukach replied with another statement that also did not refer to her by rank.
“A military member’s administrative record is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, hence the specifics of this case cannot be release,” Sukach said.
When asked if Lovely is now in a supervisory role, Sukach said, “Geraldine Lovely was removed from her supervisory role and was held accountable for her actions.”
Maj. Gen. Peter Gersten, commander of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis, released a stern memo shortly after the video’s release, saying such behavior is unacceptable.
“Yesterday, one of our fellow airmen decided to part with our core values and posted an unprofessional video which has no place in our Air Force,” Gersten said in the memo. “A decision by one airman has detracted from the Air Force’s proud 71 year history of breaking cultural barriers and has caused airmen to hurt, lose faith and be distracted from the mission. Let me be completely clear when I say that any type of activity that disparages anyone because of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation will not be tolerated. Toxic workplaces and toxic leaders will not be tolerated. Teamwork, grit and getting it done through integrity, service and excellence is the Air Force way. Anything less is unacceptable and shortchanges our core values.”
In this week’s statement, Sukach appeared to make a comment about the interest Lovely’s case has attracted online.
“These cases are not tried in social media but handled through the fair and due process afforded to military members under public law and regulations,” Sukach said.
“Nellis Air Force Base leadership emphasizes that any activity which disparages anyone because of their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated,” Sukach said. “Service members are responsible for their own actions, to include social media.“
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
