Like the Air Force, the US Navy pays its aviators a monetary bonus to encourage retention (though it doesn’t always work, as the Air Force acceptance rate showed).
This year, due to high retention levels, the Navy altered its bonus plan; as stated now, the only aviators who will get the previous years’ $25K bonus per year are F/A-18 Hornet pilots. All others will get a bonus specific to their airframe: Read more
Some people live under the false impression military officers are perfect. While the nature of their profession often leaves little room for error, the men and women who make up the military officer corps are as fallible as the next person.
Military Chaplains, who often enter the military as 1LTs or Captains, have been known to give incorrect military guidance. Despite their role as spiritual leaders, they’ve also been known to dispense incorrect theology. Military lawyers, or “Judge Advocates General (JAGs),” are similar. They, too, often enter the military as higher officers, or have accelerated promotions through the lower ranks. Their advanced age, education, and rank often gives them credibility — even if it isn’t earned. They, too, have been known to give military advice or guidance to commanders that is inconsistent with the law.
Which brings us to today.
Michael Weinstein, a former JAG himself, recently published a letter Read more
As previously noted, US Army Chaplain (Capt) Pratima Dharm has reportedly become the US military’s first Hindu Chaplain. One point of curiosity was the Chaplain’s badge; she had reportedly worn the Christian cross “until this year.”
In an article at the Huffington Post, US Air Force LtCol Ravi Chaudhary explains his role in helping Dharm represent Hinduism as opposed to Christianity (which, incidentally, she doesn’t reject under the “inclusive” Hindu spirituality). (Chaudhary, a Hindu US Air Force C-17 pilot, was highlighted here just a few months ago; he currently serves in the Pentagon.) He notes the discussion of the “religious identifier” Dharm was to wear — a particularly interesting endeavor, since Hinduism doesn’t really have exclusive religious symbology: Read more
The US Air Force reported an F-16C crashed in Wisconsin. The pilot is safe after ejection and is being “medically evaluated.” The aircraft belonged to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing in Madison.
As is common, the Air Force will investigate the mishap and report the results some months from now.
Many have now heard of the Texas High School graduation that received a court-ordered ban on prayer, including the specific words “amen, invocation,” and the like. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery had ruled against the Medina Valley Independent School District in a lawsuit brought by the Schultz family. Biery had determined they would “suffer irreparable harm” if they heard to a prayer at the ceremony. The ruling was appealed, overturned, and the graduation went on as a celebration of freedom of speech and religion.
That wasn’t the first controversial ruling on prayer in Texas.
In a ruling that was largely under the radar, Texas Judge Lynn N. Hughes said the Department of Veteran’s Affairs could not control the content of an invited Pastor’s prayer. The Reverend Scott Rainey, pastor at Living Word Church of the Nazerene, had been invited to give an invocation at a Memorial Day event, and was asked to provide Read more
The Navy Times notes US Navy CAPT Owen Honors, relieved of his command of the carrier USS Enterprise, has started a website requesting statements of support.
The site indicates he will face a board of inquiry to determine his future in the Navy — or under what circumstances he will leave the service.
On a related note, and without a hint of irony, the Washington Times published an article noting the US Navy has become “too politically correct for ‘old salts’.” Of course, it also makes reference to a recent patch circulating among the “young” salts after Read more
In an unusual display of public candor (given the current environment on opposition to DADT repeal), a US Marine directly asked Secretary of Defense Robert Gates if those with moral opposition to homosexuality could resign:
“Sir, we joined the Marine Corps because the Marine Corps has a set of standards and values that is better than that of the civilian sector. And we have gone and changed those values and repealed the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy,” the sergeant told Gates during the question and answer session.
“We have not given the Marines a chance to decide whether they wish to continue serving under that. Is there going to be an option for those Marines that no longer wish to serve due to the fact their moral values have not changed?” he asked.
Despite Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen’s prior statements that those who disagreed could vote with their feet, Gates had a fairly blunt answer to the enlisted Marine: Read more
A Stars and Stripes article indicates US Army Chaplain (Capt) Pratima Dharm has become the first US military Hindu Chaplain. Dharm is a Chaplain at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Dharm did not enter as a Hindu Chaplain — she has simply changed endorsers. She was originally endorsed by the Pentecostal Church of God, but is now sent by Chinmaya Mission West. (In 2007 an Army Chaplain previously tried to convert to Wicca, but was discharged after he lost his endorsement and was unable to find an approved Wiccan endorsing agency.)
The article is unofficial, and doesn’t indicate what insignia Dharm now wears (only that she wore the Christian cross “until this year”). There is no official Hindu Chaplain emblem (at least not publicly), and public images still show Dharm wearing the cross.
Think someone will spin this as evidence of a Christian takeover of the military?