Tag Archives: Military

Homosexual Military Advocate to Co-Chair Inauguration

Update: A follow-up from the Anchorage Daily News, in which David Hall said

I would have never thought in a million years that one day I would be standing in the Oval Office…thanking the president for the work he did for gay people…

David Hall, current director of development at the homosexual advocacy OutServe-SLDN, has been named a “citizen co-chair” of the Presidential inauguration.

Former Air Force Staff Sgt. David Hall, discharged under the repealed “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, was chosen as one of eight Americans to serve as a “citizen co-chair” of the 57th Presidential Inauguration…

On Inauguration Day, the co-chairs will take part in the inaugural parade, riding on the “Our People, Our Future” float, and attending the Inaugural Ball.

A famous man once said he looked forward to the day when people would be judged based upon the “content of their character.”

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Anti-Religious Groups Harass West Point over Prayer

Since former cadet (and current MRFF “client”) Blake Page made his awkward public departure from West Point over “criminal” Christianity, there has been a simmering of the issue of prayer at the US Military Academy.  For the most part, the only loud voices were critics who want to see West Point end public prayers.

The Alliance Defending Freedom just recently weighed in, encouraging West Point to stand firm in the face of criticism and honor both its legacy and religious freedom.  The ADF’s David Hacker said

“The First Amendment allows public officials to acknowledge our nation’s religious heritage,” he notes. “Anti-religious groups with misguided ideas about the First Amendment should not be allowed to destroy a time-honored, perfectly constitutional American custom.”

The ADF sent a letter to West Point on behalf of the Chaplain Alliance Read more

Chaplains, Church Ministries Team to Aid Troops

The Fort Campbell Religious Support Office recently sponsored a “ministry fair” attended by

nearly 200 ministry leaders, mental health professionals and volunteers

for the purpose of helping the faith and military communities work together to support troops.

Fort Campbell’s Religious Support Office hosted the ministry fair to familiarize the faith community with the 571 support programs the military base offers to help soldiers and military families in crisis, encompassing 40 different areas of need, including soldier and family assistance, chaplaincy, medical support and prevention programs.

The effort is similar to one by the Southern Baptist Convention, led by retired Read more

Pentagon Backs Army Spouse Club on Homosexuals

According to Buzzfeed, the Pentagon has supported Fort Bragg’s stance that an Army spouse group is not required to accept homosexuals:

Pentagon spokesman Nathan Christensen explained the current policy to BuzzFeed: “When [a private group] asks for authority to operate on a base, it must comply with all applicable DOD instructions and directives and laws, in this case [Department of Defense Instruction] 1000.15.”…

A Pentagon spokesman added late Tuesday that the Department of Defense “neither drafts, executes nor exercises control over the Club or its governing documents. Private organizations who adhere to the criteria outlined in applicable instructions are allowed base access.”

Technically, the Pentagon isn’t backing the group — they’re backing the law.  Since neither federal law nor military regulations require special accommodation based on sexual preference, neither does the Army.

If that’s the official Pentagon interpretation, though, it may leave some Marine lawyers in an awkward position.

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Don’t Pay Someone to do Your Taxes

If you are a member of the US military, you don’t need to pay someone else to do your taxes, nor purchase software to do it yourself.  H&R Block is continuing its work with MilitaryOneSource to allow all military members access to H&R Block tax preparation software — for free.

Tony Jackson, a program analyst for the Military OneSource program office, detailed the services available for troops and their families.
 
“Military OneSource is a gateway to a free tax preparation service, partnered with H&R Block,” he said. “We also have tax consultants who can provide assistance, whether it’s seeking and filling out tax forms or any other tax-related information.”

Most military bases also have manned “Volunteer Income Tax Assistance,” which are seasonal offices that can provide some services (including free filing).

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Religious Freedom Day, 16 January 2013

Each year since 1993 the President has declared January 16th to be “Religious Freedom Day,” in order to remember the passage of Thomas Jefferson’s 1786 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (see 2009). President Obama has not yet issued his proclamation this year but will likely do so today [Update: Now here].  CitizenLink, associated with Focus on the Family, noted an irony in the forthcoming Presidential proclamation while the Administration is being sued — for impinging upon religious freedom.

Jefferson’s statute continues to be a strong expression for the value of Read more

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