Air Force Continues Pilot Bonuses

The US Air Force announced that it would continue its Aviator Continuation Pay, more popularly known as the pilot bonus, in fiscal 2012.  This year, certain career fields can even get 50% up front, as opposed to equal yearly payments previously offered.

“Our goal this year is to influence retention in very specific mission areas based on forecasted shortages,” [Lt. Col. Gerard] Ryan said. “While the program is open to all initial eligible pilots, this year’s program further incentivizes our critical shortages in RPA Read more

Baltimore Recruit Center Bomber Gets 25 Years

Antonio Martinez attempted to detonate what he thought was a car bomb outside a recruiting center in Baltimore.  He pled guilty in January and has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Martinez said in a lengthy apology that he knew little of Islam when he was arrested and “all I had was a religious zeal.” Martinez repeatedly said that he has “renounced the misguidance of terrorism” and that the religion is not one “anyone in this courtroom should be afraid of.”

Martinez’s attempted bombing is one of 12 attempted or successful attacks on the US military by those apparently motivated by their Islamic faith, four of whom were Read more

Senator Kerry: Call of Jesus is to Service

Senator John Kerry (D-Ma) recently gave an interesting speech on his Catholic faith and his political career:

“I don’t usually talk about faith. It’s not something every audience wants to digest or is able to digest, but I believe the call of Jesus and every religious leader is the call to service,” Kerry told a few hundred students, faculty and other onlookers as he delivered the inaugural Richard F. Gross Distinguished Lecture inside the chapel at the Christian college. “I like to think that my entire career is an extension of my faith.”

Read more.

US Military Celebrates Easter in Afghanistan with Run for Jesus

Bagram Air Base’s chaplains organized a Run for Jesus 5-Miler in which nearly 600 US servicemembers attended a sunrise Easter service followed by a run around the base.  One group even carried an 8-foot cross.

The 82nd CAB Chaplain’s team hosted the first “Run for Jesus” on Bagram Apr. 8. Held on Easter Sunday, the 5-mile race began with a sunrise service hosted by three of the CAB Chaplains. More than 560 people completed the track around Bagram Airfield.

Nearly 700 photos of the event are available on the unit’s Facebook page (in Part I and Part II).

Other US servicemembers in Afghanistan were also able to take time Read more

Admiral: F-18 Crash Outcome Defines “Miracle”

Admiral John Harvey, the four-star admiral commanding US Fleet Forces Command, had an interesting characterization of the Friday F/A-18D Hornet crash into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach:

“I don’t speak for anybody’s religious beliefs, but the mayor and I both agreed that if you want to define a miracle, what happened here yesterday meets that definition for me,” Adm. John Harvey, the four-star head of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, told reporters.

He also noted the many prayers for the community:  Read more

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