Though its organizers have said nothing publicly, it seems entirely likely the atheist counter-event to be held at Fort Bragg, NC, known as “Rock Beyond Belief” — the atheist come-back to the Billy Graham Evangelical Association’s “Rock the Fort” — will yet again come to loggerheads with the US Army.
In fact, the March 31st “concert” may even be cancelled. Again.
Its primary organizer, US Army Sgt Justin Griffith, cancelled the event Read more
In an article that actually says very little, the US Army notes nothing has really changed since DADT repeal was implemented. Part of the reason is “many” homosexual servicemembers have continued to keep their sexual preference to themselves. The only “change” was the absence of their fear they would be discharged if discovered.
Many “out” gay and lesbian Soldiers say they haven’t noticed much change in Army culture since the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” Sept. 20, and many still remain in the closet to those they serve with.
For most, it has been a relief that they can no longer be prosecuted or their Army careers jeopardized for being gay.
One “out” Army NCO said the repeal resulted in a changing perception: Read more
Chris Carroll at the Stars and Stripes notes the importance of Catholic chaplains to a large majority of the US military population — and yet the marked shortage of priests in the military as a whole.
Searching for bombs day in and day out, [US Army SPC Joe] Murphy needed the reassuring hand of his faith more than ever, but because of a worsening shortage of Catholic chaplains in Afghanistan and throughout the military, it had never been more difficult to practice it.
“The only time in Afghanistan I ever saw a priest was Read more
You have to give Jason Torpy a little credit. Unlike Michael Weinstein, who is characterized by ellipses, alliterative vitriol, and threats of lawsuits, Torpy has demonstrated an ability to actually communicate with people and achieve at least some level of influence (that is, until he steps into more “controversial” areas.)
The one-man wonder that is the Military “Association” of Atheists and Freethinkers recently “needled” an Air Force agency into changing the motto that has graced their patch for some years.
The US Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office “expedites” acquisitions programs, many in “sensitive activities.” The RCO had a patch that, like many units’ patches, contained embedded in-jokes, clever double-speak, and probably even hinted at national secrets. Torpy’s beef? The slogan at the bottom:
Opus Dei Cum Pecunia Alienum Efficemus
“Doing God’s Work with Other People’s Money”
Apparently, the phrase “Doing God’s Work” is Read more
The Air Force has released the report of the September 2011 crash of an A-10C Thunderbolt II in Georgia.
According to the report, the mishap aircraft’s stall warning system malfunctioned at 15,000 feet, preventing stall warning tones from functioning properly… Without evidence of additional malfunctions, the mishap pilot continued the FCF.
At 34,000 feet, the mishap aircraft experienced a stall Read more
Anglican Chaplain (LtCol) Harry Ndirangu, Kenyan Ministry of State for Defense, was invited to preach to US forces at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, as part of an ongoing chaplain interaction program.
Ndirangu visited for three weeks as part of a program that invites Kenyan chaplains to share best practices with the religious Read more
CNN has the “exclusive” interview with the two-man crew of the F-15E Strike Eagle that went down in Libya (for technical reasons). The pilot, Maj. Kenneth Harney, evaded and was rescued by US Marines. The backseat WSO, Capt. Tyler Stark, was ‘captured’ by ‘friendly’ Libyan rebels and repatriated.
Once in the custody of the Libyan rebels, Stark couldn’t figure out Read more
It was noted here once before that US military fighter pilots sanitize their uniforms prior to combat missions, so if they are captured they have little on their person to provide information to the enemy. However, intel officers occasionally encouraged pilots to carry family photos, thinking the “personalizing” aspect of the photo might positively influence their captors’ perspectives. Similarly, some encouraged carrying a religious item like a cross that would be found on them if they were captured.
Why carry an obviously Christian item on a combat sortie into a predominantly Islamic country?
Simple: Adversaries, primarily of the Islamic faith, respected Christians as “people of the book.” Many have misunderstood Muslims’ use of the term “infidels,” which refers to those “without faith.” In short, hostile Islamic adversaries viewed a Christian in the US military far more positively than an atheist in uniform.
The US Marines recently capitalized on that knowledge, using the faith of an American soldier as a positive message of religious respect to counter the Taliban propaganda of American “infidels” — militant atheists trying to get rid of religion in Afghanistan: Read more