The media has been awash with “where were you” stories in the run-up to the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Likewise, many military stories have come out from servicemembers recounting where they were or why they joined. Many were barely out of gradeschool on that day 10 years ago.
Repeated, too, have been the stories of those Read more
US Air Force General Craig McKinley is the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. He recently hosted an Islamic iftar in Washington, DC. The dinner highlighted the Guard’s “State Partnership Program” through which the Guard “foster[s] relationships with Muslim and Muslim-majority nations.”
With several senior Muslim and National Guard leaders in attendance for the dinner, Imam Mohamed Magid, the executive director of Read more
Jason Torpy of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers has complained over a poster in the halls of a Simi Valley government building.
The poster features a God Bless America / God Bless You prayer sandwich as well as a reference to Psalms 33 indicating Christian requirements for such a blessing. This display is primarily religious in nature, co-opting patriotism to promote their personal Christian beliefs. This is disrespectful to nontheistic military personnel…
Interesting, isn’t it, that atheists are so intent on framing an issue as “Christian” they continue to assign ‘exclusive Christian’ intent to things like passages from the Hebrew Bible — which is, of course, Jewish.
It’s also fascinating that Torpy is so hypersensitive Read more
As noted previously, US military Chaplains have been working with the militaries of African nations on a variety of issues, including highlighting religious freedom and establishing Chaplaincies within their own militaries. In Uganda once again:
US Navy Chaplain (Capt) Jon Cutler, a rabbi with CJTF-Horn of Africa, recently spent time with the Ugandan military on the topic of the Chaplaincy.
“Taking care of the spiritual, social and psychological aspects of a troop before, during and after they return from combat situations is Read more
General Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, has apparently issued a memorandum to his commanders entitled “Maintaining Government Neutrality Regarding Religion.” It makes what is probably the most significant official change to the religious environment in the Air Force in some years (reference the “Religious Guidelines” of 2006).
First, it notes that “leaders at all levels”
must avoid the actual or apparent use of their position to promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion.
which is substantially similar to previous military positions. Of course, the complexity of the environment prevents a detailed explanation as to what constitutes “apparent use” or what may be “apparent…preferential treatment” vice the expected (and required) accommodation of religion. This has long been an understandable challenge with regard to religion and the government, not just the military.
The memorandum then raises new content: Read more
Chaplain (LtCol) Dennis Saucier is the senior staff Chaplain of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs at Dover Air Force Base — where all the fallen American military heroes return. An article from a Church of Christ news site notes the role of the Chaplains in their return.
The Dignified Transfer is a key focus of Saucier’s work. Chaplains offer prayers during the ceremony, thanking God Read more
The Washington Times notes that having ‘won’ the right to be openly homosexual in the US military, homosexual advocates are now pressing the military for more — as predicted.
Aubrey Sarvis, director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network…identified 11 benefits that he says the law permits if regulations are changed, including military family housing, access to commissaries and exchanges, marriage and family counseling, legal aid and joint duty assignments.
He also is seeking a change in the rules for Read more
The universal Chaplain’s Badge suggested by former Navy Chaplain Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff may not be far fetched.
The Washington Post noted Chaplain (Major General) Cecil Richardson, the Air Force Chief of Chaplains, is on board with Resnicoff’s idea:
Top brass at the Pentagon have endorsed Resnicoff’s idea of a universal-yet-denominational insignia, if not his actual sketches.
“I like the idea of developing a new chaplain insignia Read more