A-10 Crashes in Germany, Harrier Down in Mideast, 2 UAVs in US

An A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) crashed near Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Friday, according to the US Air Force.  The pilot ejected and was airlifted to a hospital; locals said he complained of a back injury.  As is the usual procedure, the incident will be investigated and a report issued in a month or more.

The A-10 has recently been used in Libya, most publicly attacking boats along the coast.

The Marine Times reports an AV-8B Read more

Finding a Church, Part 3: Leaving a Church

Being a Christian in the military sometimes creates challenges in situations civilians take for granted.  For example, how do you find a church?  The concept of a “home church” and steady lifelong attendance takes on a whole new meaning when you move every two to four years.

This is the third article in a series of suggestions and guidance on finding a church as you move about in your military career.  The first, Part 1: The Military Chapel, discussed the various perspectives and thoughts on attending services at the base/post military chapel.  The second, Part 2: Worshipping at Local Churches, addressed the topic of local/community churches a military Christian might choose to visit.  This final article discusses the sometimes controversial topic of “leaving” a church.

There used to be an old military Academy gripe that cadets were judged unfairly:  Read more

US Army Makes Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Exportable

An Army release notes efforts by the US Army training leadership to support the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness campaign through its Battle Command Training Program, an “exportable” training center.

The Army’s Comprehensive Fitness Program is designed to bring together several agencies, key organizational members and initiatives to address the “Five Dimensions of Strength” which sustain the U.S. Army Soldier: Physical, Emotional, Social, Family and Spiritual.

The BCTP is a team that travels to Army bases to bring specialized training to them.  CSF is a whole-person fitness concept designed to alleviate the Army’s prior Read more

Sikh Soldier Endures US Army Training

A local paper notes the training of SPC Simram Lamba, the first observant Sikh to serve as an enlisted line Soldier in decades.  For his part, Lamba seems to find it a non-event:

Lamba…said the most frequently asked question by his fellow soldiers is about his unshorn hair and beard.

Lamba said both are considered Sikh articles of faith. He called them a “natural gift from God, and we’re not going to destroy it.”

Lamba added the soldiers at his side treat him like any Read more

Buddhist Spouse on Life in the Military

The Buddhist Military Sangha recently published an interview with a Buddhist Navy spouse on being “married to the military.”  While much of the interview is, understandably, on the topic of roles and relationships, there were some interesting statements on faith and the military.

The interviewee is Mrs. Barbara Zaragoza, a practicing convert to Zen Buddhism and a “Navy wife.”

On being stationed overseas, away from her usual religious support:  Read more

US Naval Aviator Finds Jesus in WalMart

Syndicated columnist Sarah Smiley tries to explain the military tradition of ‘constant change,’ noting the prevalence of “farewells” (sometimes called “Hails and Farewells,” since newcomers are often welcomed as others leave).  She also recounts the story of her husband, a Navy helicopter pilot, finding Jesus:

One Cinco de Mayo, we hosted a party, complete with a Mariachi band from Guadalajara, in our backyard. The band’s leader’s name was Jésus. That’s “HEY-soos,” with an accent mark over the e. Every-one loved Jésus and hoped he could return for our second annual party the next year. By the time spring came around, however, there had been a rash of deportations in Pensacola, and Jésus was not answering my many phone calls. We feared Read more

Islamic US Soldier Worships with Local Afghans

US Army SPC Stephen Hirt helped “bridge[] the gap between US and Afghanistan Muslims” during his recent combat tour.

After his deployment to Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009, Hirt decided to unite his mosque, the Islamic Institute of Orange County – al Farouk, in Anaheim, Calif., with the Muslim people of Afghanistan during his deployment…

Hirt’s unit was not only supportive, they joined in the effort with funding Read more

Women in the Military: Statistics, and the First Female JFACC

Previous articles have noted the recommendation by a government panel that women be allowed in all military roles, including combat, because their careers suffer when they are compared to males with broader or combat experience.

A recent article highlighting female Army aviators noted the statistic:

According to a study released earlier this month by the Military Leadership Diversity Commission, women account for only 16 percent of leadership positions in the military – a seemingly staggering statistic to release during National Women’s History Month.

The very next sentence, however, puts the statistic in perspective:  Read more

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