[The text below was forwarded through the enlisted chain of command; portions were quoted on FoxNews.]

SUBJECT: Respecting the Beliefs of All Airmen

Importance: Low

UNCLASSIFIED//

1. Every Airman needs to respect every other Airman and be a good wingman. Air Force leaders and commanders have continued to emphasize the importance of mutual respect. This includes our respect for the beliefs of others. Climate surveys at our Air Force Academy have pointed out instances where respect may be lacking or where declaring one s own religious beliefs may be perceived as imposing on others.

Commanders must be alert to the issue of religious respect throughout our Air Force. The Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Lt Gen Roger Brady, is leading a Task Force that will gather the facts at USAFA, assess policy and practice, and compile a report of findings and recommendations that will be completed over the next few weeks. In the meantime, the acting Secretary has asked that Commanders across our Air Force bring the following principles into their crosscheck:

a. The bedrock of what makes us Airmen is our Core Values. Our Core Values, as they have in the past with other issues of culture and climate, should guide commanders when it comes to matters of religion.  Imbedded in Integrity, Service, and Excellence is the principle of respect. . . respect for ourselves, respect for our Air Force and its values, and respect for each other.

b. Respect, in this case, means ensuring respect for all Airmen and their family members and their right to hold to any belief system they choose–this is the responsibility of every Air Force commander and leader. This includes respecting an Airman s right to align with traditional religious views as well as his/her right to not align with any specific view.

c. We have the honorable privilege of upholding a Constitution that both protects each American’s right to freely exercise their religion and forbids the government s establishment of religion. Commanders are responsible to create conditions where those tenets flourish simultaneously, limited only by the requirements of good order and discipline and military necessity.

2. The Superintendent of our Air Force Academy, Lieutenant General John Rosa, has been openly working the issue of religious respect for the past year and a half. We are now capturing the Academy s lessons learned for the entire Air Force.

3. Religion in the public realm is an issue that has generated discussion and debate across the country. We are not going to resolve this debate to everyone s satisfaction. But commanders do have operational responsibilities to uphold our Core Values and comply with existing guidance. Like many aspects of command, there is no comprehensive list of do s and don t s for religious respect. It is an issue that requires  prudent judgment, guided by resources available to assist.

a. First, take this opportunity to meet with your senior chaplain and your SJA to review both DoD and AF guidance on this subject. Such guidance includes such nuggets as the stated role and mission of our chaplains, as well as the principles of accommodation. For starters, consult DoDD 1300.17, AFI 36-2706, and AFPD 52-1. For guidance regarding civilian employees in this area, consult your EEO expert and the Code of Federal Regulations: Title 29, part 1605.

b. Second, be sensitive to behavior of our Airmen of all ranks.  You will have no difficulty recognizing some behaviors as blatantly wrong. Epithets and disparaging remarks about another person s religion are unacceptable and should be corrected on the spot.

c. More subtle are other well-intentioned expressions of personal religious belief, which must be viewed within the context of the situation, and require the exercise of mature judgment. In no event, however, should one s expressions of personal belief be allowed to appear overbearing.

d. Senior leaders, commanders, and supervisors at every level must be particularly sensitive to the fact that subordinates can consider your public expressions of belief systems coercive. Using your place at the podium as a platform for your personal beliefs can be perceived as misuse of office. Where, when, and how you espouse your beliefs is important. Use your best judgment, and show your Airmen the respect you want to receive.

e. Wing and installation commanders must be personally involved in providing avenues of accommodation for religious belief systems, bounded by the needs of the mission. Our Air Force consists of Airmen from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems and we benefit from the diverse talents they bring to air and space power. One of the key roles of our chaplains is to advise commanders in ensuring religious accommodations are properly made.

f. Installation commanders should also know what outside groups are invited to enter and operate on your base. For instance, outside religious organizations must operate under the umbrella of your senior chaplain s program. Installation commanders are also to be personally involved in the review of advertisements of religious events on their installations, or events that could be perceived as religious, so as to not create the impression of command endorsement of any one particular belief system. Perceptions are often as important as reality.

g. Enforce the proper use of government E-mail and other official communications. Indiscriminate use of mass E-mail address lists to send notices that may espouse a particular religious view, or to market a discrete religious event, is inappropriate. Consult your SJA for advice on specifics and consult AFI 33-119 for electronic messaging policy.

4. None of these sensitivities should be viewed as limiters to the healthy discussion and debate that should be characteristic of young men and women in the profession of arms, a profession that requires serious attention to the inner strength and courage our mission demands. As air and space power leaders, we should be fostering an environment where Airmen are openly and respectfully discussing issues of character and spirituality.

5. We have the world’s greatest Air Force, first and foremost, because of the character of our Airmen Active Duty, Guard, Reserve and Civilian. We respect and rely on each other to defend the greatest Nation on earth. Such respect and mutual support flourishes when our Core Values are drilled into every corner of our culture.

6. We have already learned many useful lessons from our Task Force’s efforts at USAFA. The Secretary and I intend to use the lessons captured from our assessment to bolster the already healthy work environment where our Airmen fly and fight every day, and to further enhance every Airman s personal and professional development. Once the group s report is finalized and specific recommendations reviewed, we will provide further guidance to assist commanders in addressing more specific aspects of this issue.

7. Until then, use this guidance to focus your energies on this important aspect of our common Airman culture. I am honored to be serving with you in our Air Force, an Air Force getting better every day.