The Faith Comes by Hearing BibleStick was first noted here last year. A recent article at the Christian Post notes the ministry is still unable to keep up with the demand for the New Testament mp3 players, which are requested by Chaplains and provided to troops downrange. They have provided 100,000 to troops so far; in October, they received over 20,000 additional requests.
As noted in an Army press release, US Army Alaska celebrated the Diwali festival with members of the Indian army during Yudh Abhyas 2010, a combined training exercise.
Diwali is significant holiday in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism, for different theological reasons.
President Obama observed Diwali at the White House last year.
Is marijuana the next DADT? The increasing (state) legality of the otherwise (federally) illegal drug indicates a growing trend of “normalizing” marijuana usage, and it is not going unnoticed by the military.
An official Air Force news release at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, notes marijuana is “not welcome here,” despite its sometimes legality in the surrounding state.
Schriever commander Colonel Wayne Montheith wrote a memo noting, among other points,
Marijuana, prescribed or otherwise obtained, may not be used, possessed, distributed, nor introduced on Schriever AFB, a Federal military [installation].
The presence of marijuana on Schriever AFB [is] a risk to good order and discipline and to the Air Force mission.
The policy applies to any person on Schriever, including civilians — who could be banned from the base for bringing even state-approved marijuana with them.
In a similar vein to the federalist treatment of homosexual marriage, Read more
Michael Weinstein and his self-founded MRFF have occasionally cried foul at the participation by US Air Force Academy members in groups sponsored by off-base organizations. The most recent was a small Bible study going by the name Cadets for Christ. Officers’ Christian Fellowship, Campus Crusade, and the entire SPIRE system have also been criticized.
Weinstein appears to have his own inroads to the Academy, however. He routinely publicizes information privy only to those at USAFA, and he cites “hundreds” of staff and cadets as party to his complaints. In fact, just yesterday Weinstein cited an “anonymous” USAFA faculty member to support his latest charge against USAFA. (Weinstein complained the MRFF wasn’t invited to the USAFA “religious respect” conference — while simultaneously calling that same conference “propaganda.”)
Some of the people he cites are not without influence. A few who have made themselves known after leaving USAFA: Read more
Newly enlisted US Army SPC Simran Preet Singh Lamba has become the first non-medical officer observant Sikh to enter the US Army in decades (previously noted). Lamba is permitted to keep his beard and wear a turban. Outside of his hair and beard, the Army didn’t treat Lamba uniquely: Read more
CNN repeated Politico’s “10 Crushworthy New Reps,” referring to the incoming members of the US House of Representatives. Among them is Air National Guard KC-135 pilot Adam Kinzinger:
Why he’s crushworthy: He’s heroic. He won the U.S. Air Force Airman’s Medal for saving a woman’s life in 2007. Plus, we’ll say it: He’s handsome. A pilot and an Iraq war veteran, Kinzinger, in aviators and a flight suit, conjures up memories of Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun’ — which isn’t a bad thing!
Not exactly the kind of thing you want posted on the squadron bulletin board. But if your new job is in the US Capitol building, you’ll probably handle it just fine.
According to news reports, former Army Lt Dan Choi (once again) chained himself to the White House perimeter fence, resulting in arrest by the park police. Rather than walking away in cuffs, he apparently chose to “go limp.” Last time Choi did the same thing he was actually still an officer in the Army.
Choi was discharged last summer under DADT, and he recently tried to re-enlist during the 8-day injunction of the law banning homosexuals from serving in the military.
The next time Choi tries to sign up with the military, it should show him the door, regardless of the status of DADT. He apparently lacks the strength of character to Read more
According to a local news station, PFC Naser Abdo has been recommended for honorable discharge five months after seeking status as a conscientious objector.
Abdo had previously been called a “traitor” by the American Islamic Forum for Democracy for seeking CO status while opposing only US military operations, not war in general.
As noted earlier, a Christian Ensign has sued the Navy with the help of the ACLU for not getting CO status, despite declaring himself a pacifist.