As previously noted, a doctor and a dentist, both practicing Sikhs, have been petitioning to be allowed to serve in the US Army. Current military regulations prevent their service because their religious accoutrements–including their turbans and kirpans–cannot be accommodated.
A news release now reports Read more…
A local paper notes the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking at the US Air Force Academy. Besides being the central building of worship on the cadet campus, it is also one of the most famous chapels and military structures. It is the number one manmade tourist attraction in Colorado.
It is fairly common to hear of religious groups across the spectrum of faiths contributing care packages, religious books and materials, and other resources to our troops downrange. (Previous stories have included organizations providing support for military members practicing Judaism, Islam, and Wicca, for example.)
One church took it a step further and “adopted” a deployed Chaplain. For Chaplain Jeff Bryan, Read more…
Like last week’s question and answer, this military religious question also comes from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
The MRFF frequently trumpets a “[photo] of a military regulation being violated by a service member or at a military event” in its “Captured on Camera.” The extent of the MRFF’s most recent accusation was this:
a photo of an Army officer giving a briefing while standing in front of a Christian flag.
Maj. Gen. Vince Brooks is shown giving a briefing with a Christian flag in the background (photo below the fold): Read more…
Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow has made frequent appearances on this site. The reason is simple: his view on the role of Christian faith in everyday life reflect a maturity and belief to which all should aspire. He consciously uses his platform to share his faith, and his example is particularly applicable for those in the military.
World War II fighter ace and Air Force test pilot Brigadier General (Ret) Chuck Yeager will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame in December.
The California Hall of Fame was created in 2006 by the Governor’s wife, Maria Shriver, and the California Museum. Its purpose is to
recognize legendary Californians who have influenced the state, the nation and the world.
Yeager’s fellow inductees are an eclectic group, including George Lucas, John Madden, and Harvey Milk. Prior inductees include Walt Disney, Amelia Earhart, and Ronald Reagan.
Updated with NASA’s “What’s Going Up?”
When space shuttle Discovery finally lifts off (after two unsuccessful attempts so far), it will carry a crew of seven and a very unique piece of missionary aviation history.
Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester is taking up a piece of Nate Saint’s missionary aircraft. Nate Saint was one of five missionaries martyred by the Ecuadoran natives they were evangelizing in 1956. The incident was international news at the time, and brought attention and interest in the fields of missions and missionary aviation.
Astronaut Patrick Forrester is an Army helicopter pilot and graduate of the US Naval Test Pilot School. This will be his third shuttle flight in his 16 years with NASA. In taking up a piece of the bush aircraft, Forrester notes the importance of his faith and his hope that he can inspire an interest in missionary aviation: Read more…
After the military academies topped the Princeton University rankings and Forbes magazine’s best colleges, the US Air Force Academy continued the trend by ranking “best in the West” in US News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2010. The rankings for the western region can be seen here. The US Coast Guard and Merchant Marine Academies were #2 and #3, respectively, in the northern region.
The US Military Academy (West Point) was ranked #14 under liberal arts colleges, with the US Naval Academy (Annapolis) close behind at #19. The USMA, USNA, and the USAFA are all also ranked in the list for best engineering programs in the country.
President Barack Obama delivered the annual American Ramadan message this past week.
Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with a simple word – iqra. It is therefore a time when Muslims reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to God.
Former Air Force Captain and F-16 fighter pilot Scott O’Grady appears to have begun raising funds to run for the US Senate seat being vacated by Texas Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison.
O’Grady was made famous by his shootdown over Bosnia in 1995. He subsequently wrote a book, Return with Honor, that described how his faith was integral to his experience. His book was previously reviewed here.
Besides being a former fighter pilot, O’Grady is also a 2007 graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary.
According to a US Army news release, members of the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, found time to have a Bible study after training was finished for the day.
The session, led by Chaplain (Capt.) Patrick Vandurme…lasted for about an hour, giving Soldiers a chance to listen to verses from the Bible, pray, and talk to Chap. Vandurme as needed.
Officers and enlisted lauded the opportunity to exercise their faith Read more…
Former US Army Lieutenant William Calley apologized for his actions in the massacre at My Lai, Vietnam, in 1968, during remarks to a Georgia Kiwanis club.
There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai…I am very sorry.
Calley’s former prosecutor, William George Eckhardt, seemed to indicate that Calley has never apologized to date.
Famous for his defense that he was just following orders, Read more…
Previously, a question was posed about the accuracy of an accusation against Marine Colonel “Sam” Mundy. The background and relevant video can be seen here.
So, did the Colonel, as the accusers assert, violate military regulations?
The shortest, most accurate answer: Read more…
There have been two interesting cases of soldiers refusing to deploy. Both were court-martialed and convicted, both share the same lawyer, and both are from Fort Hood–but the details of how they handled themselves (and the punishments they received) are in stark contrast.
The first, Sgt. David Travis Bishop, 26, was found guilty by special court martial and sentenced to a year in jail and a bad conduct discharge, as well as a reduction in grade and fine. Bishop reportedly began studying his Bible after a tour in Iraq and Read more…
A shortage of Jewish Chaplains in the US military, as well as the fact that a small number of Jewish military members tend to be spread out among a large number of bases, can make religious association of Jewish troops difficult. This often leads to reliance on other soldiers or the contributions of “lay leaders”–often retired military members in the local community.
In the Atlanta, Georgia, area, retired US Navy Master Chief Jim Bradford is one such lay leader. He recently coordinated the visit of Rabbi Menachem Katz, Aleph Institute director of outreach programs, to minister to the local Jewish community at Fort McPherson. When they met, the group discussed the challenges of living of celebrating their faith within the constraints of the military environment. Read more…
God and Country is a ministry of ChristianFighterPilot.com.
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of any government, military, or religious organization.
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