US Military Better than Disney

As reported at the Christian Science Monitor last week, the US Armed Services ranked in the top 10 “blissful places to work,” beating out many stereotypical happy-employee organizations — even Disney.

CareerBliss used independent reviews to evaluate companies based on opportunities for growth, compensation, benefits, work-life balance, career advancement, senior management, job security and whether the employee would recommend the company to others.

The military rankings:  Read more

Survey: Military Majority Backs DADT Repeal, Chaplains Protest

Despite General Conway’s prior anecdotal evidence, several news outlets have reported on “leaked” details of the Department of Defense’s study on the repeal of the policy known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”  Reportedly, “a majority…would not object” to the service of open homosexuals.

The reports also indicated “some…but not a majority — objected strongly” and “said they would quit the military if the policy changed.”

Notably, whether or not personnel “objected” was not supposed to be the intent of the DoD study.  Secretary of Defense Robert Gates repeatedly said the study was to determine how best to implement repeal, not determine whether to repeal.

Meanwhile, the previously reported response of retired Chaplains was Read more

USAFA Releases Anti-Climactic Climate Survey Data

As previously noted, the US Air Force Academy responded to Freedom of Information Act requests by holding a press conference and releasing the previously withheld results of the 2009-2010 climate survey.

The release was part of an official Air Force announcement; the Academy announcement contains a link to the presentation made by USAFA Superintendent Lt Gen Michael Gould at the press conference (available here, 5.6MB pdf).

The Academy made a concerted effort to explain the results (or, more accurately, describe how the results couldn’t be explained).  It appears the Academy survey was “imperfect” in several respects:  Read more

The Moral Wounds of War, Good and Evil

Chaplain (Cmdr) Gordon Ritchie addresses an infrequently discussed but increasingly important subject in today’s military:  the moral wounds of war.

In a time in which suicides are on the rise and the military is seeking moral leadership, something that often gets left out is the “moral injury” to those who must wage war at the call of their country.

The character of man recognizes, even if unconsciously, the incongruity of the value of life and the necessity of death in war.  Solace is found in knowing that one’s Read more

Fort Campbell Breaks Ground on $8.4M Chapel

An effort by local businesses and military leaders has garnered the sprawling Fort Campbell military facility the finances it requires to build a new chapel.  A group of 55 local business leaders and public officials

explained to lawmakers that at that time, Fort Campbell was at only 31 percent of the military requirement for chapels. The existing chapels — aging World War II-era “temporary” structures — often had inadequate capacity for Eagle Remembrance ceremonies to honor fallen comrades.

The large facility will allow assemblies of over 1,200 and provide space for a variety of religious services.  The local paper editorializes:  Read more

NFL on Football Flyovers

In 2008 the NFL did a short special on the inspiration of the military fly-by at the end of the pre-game National Anthem.

For those that sometimes don’t understand the impact a simple act might have, the video is moving.

The video can be seen at the NFL.  For a point of comparison, previously, a conspiracy theory group has complained that US military flyovers of NASCAR are endorsing a world takeover.

Originally noted at FighterPilotUniversity.

There are No Atheists in Plane Crashes?

Former NASA Administrator and Secretary of the Navy Sean O’Keefe survived the plane crash that killed former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens.  In recounting the ordeal, he noted but couldn’t explain the fact that he and his son survived while the others perished.

“The degree of separation between survival and not was a fraction of what you ever imagined. It could have been anybody,” O’Keefe said. “The randomness of this whole experience was such that any doubts you have about divine intervention go away.”

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