Now-retired LtCol Paul Needham was captured by the Iranians during the Embassy takeover in 1979, as he recently related as a guest speaker at an event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
For those that have seen Argo, he was one of the guys locked in the communications vault shredding papers when the building was taken.
He was lined up in a firing squad: Read more
In line with a similar brief in September by the SgtMaj of the Army, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey recently told cadets at the US Air Force Academy that character is more important than competence:
The chairman said the importance of character sometimes takes a backseat to competence. This should be the other way around, he said.
“Character plus competence is Read more
A US Army article from Fort Carson, Colorado, discusses a marriage enrichment seminar led by the chaplaincy which emphasized the value the Army places on strengthening and protecting the marriages of its troops:
Chap. (Maj.) John Jensen, brigade chaplain, 3rd ABCT, said the purpose of the seminar was to help strengthen each couple’s marriage.
“These marriage seminars encourage Read more
Michael “Mikey” Weinstein penned half of a pro/con debate for the local Colorado Springs Gazette regarding the presence of “so help me God” in the USAFA Cadet Honor Oath. Weinstein boils his argument down to this:
Removing those words from the published oath does nothing to change [cadets’ First Amendment] right [sic].
In balance, however, if the removal of those words affects not the First Amendment rights of believers, why would the presence of those words affect the rights of others? Weinstein fails to justify his call for a change.
In one respect, Weinstein’s premise seems to be correct: No religious Read more
Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, christens the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).
Last week the US Navy christened its newest carrier the USS Gerald R. Ford.
“I christen thee United States Ship Gerald R. Ford,” said [Susan Ford] Bales, breaking the bottle across the bow. “May God bless this ship and all those who sail her.”
President Ford served as a LtCmdr in the Navy. (He was also Read more
Watch the 40 minute presentation from US Air Force Chief of Staff, General Mark Welsh, as he speaks to cadets at the US Air Force Academy.
He coins a cadet who made a spoof video, shown at 06:30. If you see nothing else, that alone is worth the watch.
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Last year TSgt Jennifer Smith filed a federal complaint over the presence of fighter pilots songs and other “traditional” fighter pilot materials found throughout her squadron and on the shared computer drives. The Air Force recently released some results of the ensuing investigation:
The Air Force has released a report following a six-month investigation, substantiating 16 [of the 38] allegations against eight [of 16] officers at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., who failed to prevent or investigate sexual harassment, condoned or refused to remove sexually offensive material and tolerated on-duty alcohol consumption.
The investigation seems to have targeted every Read more
In a fascinating case, the Conservative Baptist Association of America has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs, essentially alleging that a VA chaplaincy training program is intentionally preventing them from sending chaplains to VA and military medical centers:
The actions of the Secretary within the San Diego VA-DOD CPE Center establishing a secular, humanist and holistic religion which excludes mainstream Judeo-Christian beliefs discriminates against CBAmerica Chaplains, prevents them from practicing their religious beliefs, have forced them out of the program and will, if not corrected, prevent future CBAMERICA Chaplains from completing the program and practicing their faith in the health care facilities serviced by the program.
The VA-DOD CPE Center is responsible for preparing chaplains to serve in military and VA medical facilites around San Diego.
The lawsuit (PDF) relies on the experiences of two CBAmerica chaplains, Read more