As noted here at various times, Christians are far from the only ones to struggle with conflicts between their faith and military service, or to organize in order to support one another in it.  They are also not the only ones who intertwine their spiritual beliefs with their patriotic ones.

For example, in 2005 a Jewish cadet at the US Military Academy at West Point told how he was “prepped” by an older friend for his time in basic training:

One of Bergman’s older friends told him to ask for permission to participate in prayer services on Friday nights during Beast. 

“No matter how scared you are during basic training, tell them you want to go to services on Friday nights,” Bergman remembers his friend saying.

Bergman did and his commanders complied, allowing him and the other Jewish cadets to attend services at the school’s Jewish chapel.  The multimillion-dollar edifice at the top of the campus “was a sanctuary during basic training,” Bergman says.

Jacob Bergman’s experience is in line with the military’s intent: a servicemember asks for religious accommodation and, if the mission allows it, receives it.  This institutional paradigm works far more often than it does not, though “success” in support of free exercise is rarely a newsworthy event in the US.  Such support of a basic cadet is a far cry from those who claim the US military is bent on supporting a single religion.

Bergman also continued his outward expression of faith in his following service:

And they’re as connected to God as to country. When Bergman goes out in the field, for example, he makes sure he has his essentials, like his weapon and water. But he also carries a Bible and a camouflage yarmulke.

“You believe in religion in a foxhole,” he says.

Bergman shows that the sometimes-criticized phrase that “there are no atheists in foxholes” is by no means exclusive to a particular faith.

Bergman, who is likely a combat-experienced Captain by now, displayed an admirable perseverance in his faith, and is an example to those who feel they may be challenged in their faith when they enter the US military.

Will there be occasional difficulties?  Absolutely.  But a person of faith who commits to live their beliefs even through challenging times in the military will succeed–especially with the help of peers, superiors, Chaplains, officers, and the local community.  The military goes out of its way to make spiritual resources available to servicemembers.  All one has to do is take advantage of them.  All you have to do is ask.