Tag Archives: Military

The US Military and Religious Rights in WWII

An article from the Murray Ledger & Times, a local Kentucky paper, has an interesting perspective on the rise of the importance of religion in the military in the 1940s.  Dr. G. Kurt Piehler from the University of Tennessee spoke at Murray State University’s scholarship banquet:

Piehler spoke concerning “The Religious Life of the G.I. during World War II.” Primarily focusing on the introduction of an expanded chaplain service to meet the religious needs of American military service men and women…

“We never followed religion as seriously as we did in World War II,” Piehler said, pointing out the increase in religious focus Read more

Military Pilots Sleeping in Flight?

An article at MSNBC talks about the controversy of pilots sleeping while in flight.  The discussion about airline pilots is a separate issue; the article specifically mentions military pilots, however:

Even a 10-minute nap can improve a pilot’s performance, said Scott Shappell, a Clemson University professor who as director of the Human Factors Institute helped write the flying policies that govern military pilots.

In the military, pilots flying alone have been allowed for decades to take naps, Shappell said. “I can tell you absolutely, but good luck trying to find proof of this, in the military we have single-seat pilots take naps,” he said. Read more

New Bomber on the Air Force Docket

Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley have reportedly called for a new bomber to be added to the fleet.  The goal would be for it to work in a variety of regimes (asymmetric to conventional to nuclear) and the aircraft would be “optionally manned.”

The Air Force currently relies on a very small number of B-2s, an ever-aging number of B-52s, and the B-1.

Supreme Court to Review A-12 Contract Dispute

According to an Associated Press report, two contractors in the A-12 program, Boeing and General Dynamics, are fighting to avoid a government-demanded repayment of $1.35 billion (plus interest) from the failed aircraft acquisition.  The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the contractors’ complaint that the government invoked a state secrets defense that has prevented them from adequately defending their position in the decades-long running contract dispute.

Most people under the age of 40 probably don’t know what the A-12 Avenger even is.  The over-budget, behind-schedule program to replace frontline Navy aircraft was finally cancelled in 1991.

Military Physicians Voice Opposition to Abortion Mandate

According to the Catholic Register, the Christian Medical and Dental Association is publicizing active duty US military opposition to the Burris amendment, which would allow privately funded abortions in military medical facilities.

Like the “don’t ask, don’t tell” that has largely overshadowed it, the proposed change in abortion law is attached to the 2011 Defense Authorization Act.  Both continue to raise moral questions for the military members they will impact.

Among their chief concerns is the fact that the abortion provision, which would roll back a 1996 law that banned the use of military facilities and personnel for elective abortions, is that it lacks conscience protections for physicians who morally object to abortion…

More than 250 active-duty physician members of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations wrote to senators in August stating that the elective-abortion provision would endanger their ability to follow Read more

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