The Family Research Council recently commended the US Marine Corps for announcing an increased emphasis on “spiritual fitness” (previously discussed).

The FRC’s Travis Weber made this astute observation [emphasis added]:

As we continue to face instances of religion being scrubbed from the military, whether through the removal of Bibles from public displays in military facilities, or the censorship of religious references by commanders, the Marine Corps’ action reminds us of the potentially detrimental effects of the elimination of the spiritual aspect of military service.

It is undeniable that the spiritual component of our human nature plays an important role in the business of warfare. It must be addressed, and we neglect it at our own peril. For these reasons and more, the Marine Corps’ announcement recognizing its importance is welcome indeed.

Weber is right: There is a substantial detriment to scrubbing spirituality from the US military. Stigmatizing faith and religious expression in the US military negatively impacts military readiness and ultimately plays into the tragic outcomes of moral injury — including the epidemic of veteran suicides.

If there’s a part of the social culture that should be emphasized due to its impact on the military mission, it is spiritual resilience, as that affects every US service member.

If the US military is willing to turn policy on its head for 0.3% of its population, surely it will support the needs of 100%, right?

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