An official Air Force article cautioned military servicemembers from reading too much into the “one time exception to DOD policy” that let uniformed troops arch in a homosexual parade:
Recently, media interest has focused on the one-time exception to Department of Defense policy which allowed service members to march in a pride parade in uniform.
All military members must keep in mind that Read more
The Associated Press (reprinted in the Air Force Times) finally caught up to the story from last week over Chaplain (Col) Timothy Wagoner’s decision to leave the Southern Baptist Convention. He had been portrayed in a news article as supportive of a homosexual ceremony he attended at a military chapel.
There is a bit of new information, though, and it appears commenter DrewCollins+ was prescient:
The chaplain, Col. Timothy Wagoner, is remaining on active duty and has affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which holds more moderate views on homosexuality and some other issues than the Southern Baptists.
As an organization, the CBF holds almost no views, except to say Read more
The Stars and Stripes provided a quick but unfiltered summary of the second phase of basic training at the US Air Force Academy, including the measurable impact of its difficulty for would-be cadets:
Academy officials counted 1,035 recruits when basic cadet training began on June 28. When the flight marched into Jacks Valley nearly two weeks ago, 997 remained.
The assault course occasionally weeds out a few more. The academy counted 992 “basics” remaining when Charlie Flight readied for their turn through the course…
A former US Marine accused of wringing a kitten’s neck received 30 days in jail from a civil circuit judge:
Circuit Judge Thomas Forehand…found Angelo Michael Stango, 27, guilty Friday of misdemeanor animal cruelty and sentenced him to a year with 11 months suspended.
Violence against the cute and cuddly is punishable (though, oddly enough, there was apparently no body to prove the cat was actually dead). There will certainly be some who claim the former Marine Sergeant should have received a harsher punishment.
As an interesting comparison, the US military has apparently chosen not to charge US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan with killing the unborn child of one of his (alleged) victims, US Army Pvt Francheska Velez. Stango’s kitten killing was tried in civil court — notably, there is no UCMJ article specifically addressing animal cruelty.
There is a UCMJ article specifically addressing killing an unborn child: Read more
The Washington Post writes that drone pilots may soon get a medal tailor-made for their uniforms:
[Charles V. Mugno, head of the Army Institute of Heraldry] said most combat decorations require “boots on the ground” in a combat zone, but he noted that “emerging technologies” such as drones and cyber combat missions are now handled by troops far removed from combat.
The Pentagon has not formally Read more
Anyone care to guess who said this?
As Commander-in-Chief, I take pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States. Throughout the centuries, men of many faiths and diverse origins have found in the Sacred Book words of wisdom, counsel, and inspiration. It is a fountain of strength, and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the human soul.
An internet search will give it away, but it could make for an interesting exercise. If you need a clue, he wasn’t a Republican, and he wasn’t Read more
The demand by Jason Torpy, speaking for the one-man Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, that the US Marine Corps remove its “Christian privilege” (the crosses on Camp Pendleton‘s ridge on Camp Horno) has spurred a “wider review” of similar memorials around the world:
Capt. Greg Wolf at the Pentagon headquarters of the Marine Corps said Thursday that an “operational planning team” is conducting Read more
Cadet 2nd Class Yung Chin died while on leave in June; he had completed two years at the US Air Force Academy. Every year the wing performs a homecoming memorial formation in which the names of deceased graduates are called (to the reply of “Absent, sir!”). Regrettably, there are often cadet names included in those rolls; Cadet Chin’s name will be there this year.
What is somewhat unique about Cadet Chin’s memorial was the faith under which it was conducted:
Sensei Sarah Bender, the Academy’s Cadet Chapel Buddhist Program Leader, held a service that included remarks from friends and family, a memorial meditation, military honors and Celtic blessing as Chin’s ashes were interred at the cemetery…
Sensei Bender prayed for Chin to be healed and find peace. A committal ceremony followed.
While Buddhism is a very small minority within the US military, USAFA has had a Buddhist program for many years (even before the religious scandals of recent years). The Academy, and the US military, generally do an admirable job of providing the spiritual resources that any military member, or their family, might need — even if they are a minority faith.
May God give comfort to the Chin family.