Christian Fighter Pilot is not an Oxymoron, as well as some of these other books, make pretty good Christmas presents — especially for high schoolers, college students, or young officers who may have aspirations of becoming fighter pilots. But be wary of overpriced merchandise:
No version of this book could possibly be worth that much. Go for the regular price. And if you can’t afford that, use this page.
Jews in Green recently announced LtGen Howard Bromberg, US Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, and Col Glenn Goldman, Director of Military Instruction at West Point, will be speaking to the Aleph Institute’s 2013 “Military Training Course” in January. (Gen Bromberg has spoken there before, and prior speakers have included Speaker of the House John Boehner.)
The annual conference is intended for Jewish members of the military who Read more
An article at the Unitarian Universalist website notes an increase in Unitarian military chaplains and chaplain applicants after decades of under-representation. The article reports the denomination now has 10 chaplains, with 7 more applying. While a significant increase from the “one or two” chaplains before (including Army Chaplain Rebekah Montgomery), it still isn’t a high number. The reason for the low interest?
It’s no secret that for many years after the Vietnam War many UUs harbored some hostility toward the war and the politicians who promoted it. In some cases veterans themselves were treated distantly in our congregations, even shunned.
One UU chaplain said they are needed to balance out “evangelicals”: Read more
Sohiel Omar Kabir is a former US Air Force Airman who has been arrested in Afghanistan for recruiting and plotting terrorist attacks against US interests, including US military facilities in Afghanistan.
Kabir, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Afghanistan, served in the Air Force from 2000 to 2001. He spent some time at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., pulling aircraft or vehicle parts from a supply store. He was administratively separated for unknown reasons Read more
An article on the threat to military chaplains by social engineering efforts to redefine the institution of marriage comes from an unusual source: the UK defence forces, which, ironically enough, were held up as a standard of “its no big deal” when DADT repeal was being “debated.”
Sir Gerald Howarth, who served as a Defence Minister until September this year [warned that] military chaplains who do not support same-sex marriage could be dismissed under Government plans…
Members of the 90th Air Refueling Squadron deployed to Incirlik, Turkey, took full advantage of their exposure to a foreign culture — even participating in the local Islamic “Feast of Sacrifice:”
The feast’s origins come from the story of Abraham heading up a mountain to sacrifice his son, but his son’s life was spared by God’s provision of a ram. In a spirit of thankfulness during this festival, animals are sacrificed and the meat divided into portions — some being kept by the family, and the rest given away to the poor.
The unit’s commander noted the troops’ desire to participate in the religious festival, despite the fact they weren’t Muslims: Read more
An official DoD article covering the theme “Why We Serve” highlights SPC Adama Blackthorn, who has the nickname “Evil.” It highlights his unusual life story, from a practically homeless bouncer to making candles as a hobby with his family:
His all-natural candles also play a role in his faith — the Earth-based Pagan religion.
“I’ve been a practicing Pagan for almost two decades, and it’s very fulfilling,” said Blackthorn…
“I grew up Southern Baptist and my family is all Christian. They Read more
The US Army recently released Field Manual 1-05 (FM 1-05), Religious Support, the
Army’s keystone manual for detailing fundamental principles of comprehensive religious support.
Much of the 40-page manual is little more than logistics and structural guidance on how chaplains and religious support are to be integrated into Army operations. That the Army felt the need to publish such a document, however, is one indicator of the high value it places on such religious support.
The manual begins with an introduction on the history and importance of chaplains:
Chaplains have served in the U.S. Army since the first days of the American Revolution and many have died in combat. These chaplains represented more than 120 separate denominations and faith Read more