Military service members let their hair down at inaugural ball

WASHINGTON

Many service members are wondering what to expect from their new commander in chief - after all, he's never worn a uniform and he's vowing to change strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Those questions notwithstanding, about 2,000 servicemen and women had a chance to celebrate at the Commander in Chief's Ball, one of 10 which the new president was scheduled to attend Tuesday.

Held at the National Building Museum, the ball is a relatively new affair on the inaugural circuit - former President George W. Bush established the event in 2005, and President Barack Obama continued it this year.

Polls suggest Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, was the preferred candidate of a majority of military personnel.

For his part, Obama has worked to court the military in subtle and obvious ways.

His decision to retain Robert Gates as secretary of defense was a high-profile signal to the military.

More perfunctory, but appreciated nonetheless, were his recent visits to Arlington National Cemetery and Walter Reed Army Medical Center to meet with wounded soldiers.

"It's showing that he cares about the soldiers and the troops," said Sgt. 1st Class Nakeysha Jacobs of the National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington.

First lady Michelle Obama, meanwhile, has made the challenges of military families an area of personal focus. Last summer she met with several military spouses in Norfolk and has had similar sit-downs elsewhere.

During his inaugural address earlier Tuesday, Obama struck notes that surely appealed to some hawkish listeners.

"We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you," he vowed.

But he has also spoken in favor of a troop withdrawal from Iraq, even if the pullout comes later than initially advertised.

"Politics will be politics," said Sgt. Angel Robles, a Marine from Quantico. "That's never going to change. But to me, a pullout would be detrimental to the overall effort. And I know the new president knows that."

For one evening, military service members were able to let their hair down - figuratively, at least.

Attending the ball was "an indescribable feeling," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Marshall Cable, sporting a neatly shaved blond pate.

"It's just thrilling to see all these people," added Cable, who works in the presence of powerful leaders - he's a cook at the Pentagon, preparing meals for the secretary of the Navy.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com