Month: August 2009

MRFF Files Response against Motion to Dismiss

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation quietly filed its response to the US Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss the Chalker v Gates lawsuit.  The lawsuit challenges the practice of allowing prayer at mandatory military formations and ceremonies. It demands that Specialist Dustin Chalker, an atheist, and “those similarly situated” not be forced to attend ceremonies that include a “sectarian prayer.” In comparing the two filings, it seems as if the two groups of lawyers were sometimes speaking past each other.

The MRFF’s response brings up some interesting points, but also ignores some valid issues. It also significantly changes the concept of the original suit. Read more

Fighter Pilot Remembered for Christian Faith

Capt. Mark McDowell perished a few weeks ago when his F-15E Strike Eagle crashed in Afghanistan.  His WSO, Capt. Thomas Granith, was also killed in the crash.  McDowell’s grandfather noted his call to flying:

(Flying) was his life. He died doing what he wanted to do. He wanted to fly. He was called to fly…God called him to be a pilot.

His memorial service was recently held at First Baptist Church of Belmont in North Carolina.  Much of the service focused on “Mark’s strong faith in God.”

“Mark was always seeking to know more about the Scriptures…”

The service concluded with a powerful message on faith in Jesus and an invitation for everyone in attendance to accept him. Read more

Navy Reverses Restriction on Religious Speech

As previously noted, in June the Liberty Council wrote a letter to the Navy demanding the removal of restrictions on religious speech on its “Navy for Moms” website.

According to a press release, the Liberty Council received a reply from the Navy in which it announced the institution of new guidelines that removed the restrictions on religious and political speech in the Navy for Moms forum.  Liberty Council’s Mat Staver said

We applaud the Navy for responding by removing restrictions on religious speech. To forbid ‘Christian Chat’ as a chat forum for Navy Moms, under the notion that the name is too divisive for a public forum, was absurd. About 90 percent of Americans profess belief in God, and the majority of them are Christian. Of all places, religious freedom must be respected in our armed services.

Also noted at the Religion Clause.

Air Force Reports Cause of Edwards F-22A Crash

Despite a prior Washington Post article, the Accident Investigation report released by the Air Force indicates that the reason for the F-22A crash in March was the affects of the high-g environment.  While he did not G-LOC, the report basically says that he was trying very hard not to and he was only partially successful.

This mishap was caused by the [pilot’s] adverse physiological reaction to high acceleration forces and subsequent loss of situational awareness…The [pilot] channelized his attention to fight off the effects of high g-forces…[and] entered an extreme nose down, high-speed attitude from which safe recovery was not possible…

The Accident Investigation Board report can be read here (pdf) in its entirety.  Other sites have translated this accident as being caused by “A-LOC” or by “pilot error.”

Fighter Pilot Recovered from Iraq 18 Years Later

Update: Speicher has previously been described by his family as “a true leader, a devout Christian and a role model.”  He was a father to a then-3 and 1 year old, and also a Sunday School teacher at his Lake Shore United Methodist church in Jacksonville, FL.  His widow subsequently married another fighter pilot and friend of Scott Speicher.  Speicher has also been promoted twice since his shootdown, and is now a Captain (USN).

US Navy Lt Cmdr Michael Scott “Spike” Speicher, an F/A-18 pilot, was shot down over Iraq on 17 January 1991, during Operation Desert Storm.

Various news outlets have covered the US military’s announcement that Speicher’s remains have been recovered, following leads from local Iraqis.  All indications are that he was buried near his aircraft crash location, leading to the conclusion that he was killed when he was shot down.

Read more

New Lieutenants Paid to Earn Graduate Degrees

While many military cadets may look forward to graduation and moving on to the “real” military (getting out of the fishbowl), a small group gets the pleasure of pinning on their Lieutenant bars and heading right back to school.  For example, after graduating from the US Air Force Academy, 87 cadets will have the opportunity to continue their education through a variety of advanced degree programs as varied as MIT and Oxford.  Not only will their attendance be paid by scholarship or stipend, but the young officers will also continue to receive their Lieutenant paychecks.

Advanced education is considered desirable in the military, particularly for officers in specialized fields and those who will go on to strategic ranks.  Obtaining a graduate degree this early gives the young officers an advantage Read more

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