The American Family Association recently highlighted the prior story about the Air Force re-issuing its Weinstein Guidance — essentially slamming the door on activist Michael “Mikey” Weinstein.

Notably, Weinstein himself seems to have provided evidence the door really was shut — across the Air Force.

On Monday, 23 March, Weinstein distributed an “open letter” demanding that Col Mark Slocum — commander of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC — stop saying his Airmen were “doing the Lord’s work over there.”

Yes, Mikey Weinstein really had a problem with that euphemism, claiming Col Slocum’s use of “this unlawful phrase” placed him

in violation of [his] oath to the United States Constitution and USAF Instructions…

Weinstein demanded a reply, post haste: 

I ask that you or an authorized representative of the USAF confirm to me, via either e-mail or phone call, that you will no longer use that phrase in describing the mission of the 4th Fighter Wing no later than 1700 hours EDT today, sir.

It would seem the 4FW “got the memo” about the Weinstein directive. Despite apparently emailing the wing commander directly, Weinstein received a reply not from Col Slocum but from the 4FW Public Affairs office — the same office from which any other average American would receive a reply. As published by Weinstein:

From: “MILLERCHIP, AMBER L Maj USAF ACC 4 FW/PA”
To: “mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org”
Subject: MRFF Demand to Cease and Desist
Date: March 23, 2015 at 6:13:59 PM MDT

Sir,

Thank you for expressing your concern regarding the 4th Fighter Wing. We will look into the issue you have raised seriously and deliberately.

Very Respectfully,

//SIGNED//

Maj Amber Millerchip, USAF
Chief, Public Affairs
4th Fighter Wing
Seymour Johnson AFB, NC

(Cheekily, it looks like they also intentionally waited until after “1700 hours EDT” to send the reply.)

Apparently, Weinstein wasn’t satisfied and demanded a more detailed response. Weinstein published a second email, as sent on the following Friday:

From: “MILLERCHIP, AMBER L Maj USAF ACC 4 FW/PA”
To: “mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org”
Subject: Re: MRFF Demand to Cease and Desist
Date: March 27, 2015 at 9:50:04 AM MDT

Sir,

Thank you, we have received your concern. I don’t have any more information for you and we consider this matter closed.

Very Respectfully,

//SIGNED//

Maj Amber Millerchip, USAF
Chief, Public Affairs
4th Fighter Wing
Seymour Johnson AFB, NC

“I don’t have any more information for you and we consider this matter closed.”  That is exactly the kind of response Mikey Weinstein should get from the Air Force. It affords him no special privilege, in no way implies his accusation is legitimate, and it allows the Air Force to continue its mission without distraction.

What is more notable is that Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, is completely unrelated to the prior “scandal” at Warner-Robins in Georgia that precipitated the Air Force reminding commanders about Weinstein. In other words, it is obvious that commanders across the Air Force did get the message about, as the AFA put it, “grounding” Mikey Weinstein.

Weinstein is likely in a huff, and he’s almost certainly already demanded that his lawyers file a FOIA to try to find out how SJAFB responded to his email.

What Weinstein doesn’t know is that there was more to the Weinstein Guidance. If SJAFB followed all of that guidance, it is very likely the response to his FOIA won’t tell him much at all.

Regardless whether Col Slocum continues to say “the Lord’s work” or not, the 4FW conduct with respect to Mikey Weinstein may portend a significant turning point in the perception of religious liberty in the US Air Force.

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