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<\/p>\nThe Republic of Georgia recently prepared to deploy a Light Infantry Battalion to Afghanistan in support of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).<\/p>\n
The fairly standard\u00a0article on the deployment ceremony was accompanied by two interesting photos:<\/p>\n
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A chaplain from the Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion anointed more than 800 Georgian soldiers at the conclusion of the battalion’s deployment ceremony.<\/em><\/p>\n Georgian Maj. Zaza Tsamalashvili, battalion commander of the 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, and his troops kneel down while receiving a blessing from the battalion chaplain during the battalion’s deployment ceremony.<\/em><\/p>\n The vast majority of Georgians reportedly claim Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and the ceremony seemed to reflect the practice of that religion. The Georgian Constitution indicates an “independence of the church from the state” with “special recognition” for Orthodox Christianity.<\/p>\n For those who might have missed it, this is the Republic <\/em>of Georgia, not the US state <\/em>of Georgia.\u00a0 However, this article is <\/em>a US Marine Corps release, as the Georgian unit was being assisted by a “training and advisory group” from the US military.<\/p>\n The US Marines participated in the ceremony:\u00a0 the personnel on the far left of the kneeling formation<\/a>, helmets removed,\u00a0are Marines.\u00a0(Article and photos<\/a> by US Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Alexis R. Mulero.)\u00a0 What might be “controversial” for\u00a0those “sensitive” toward religious issues seems to\u00a0have been\u00a0a non-event for the Marines:<\/p>\n The Georgia Liaison Team was honored to take part in the ceremony and share this moment with their fellow warriors. Their participation at this ceremony displays the great partnership between the U.S. and the Republic of Georgia and also the mutual respect they have for each other’s customs and courtesies.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It is entirely permissible for US military members to participate in a pre-deployment ceremony, even if it involves prayer (as in the US) or the religious ceremonies of the Georgians.\u00a0 Contrary to some critics’ assertions, the US military does not “establish” a religion by virtue of its association <\/em>with religion.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is an important caveat, however.\u00a0 The overriding presumption is\u00a0no Marines\u00a0in the formation\u00a0asked to be excused\u00a0for reasons of religious conscience.\u00a0 Kneeling in this context is a participatory physical act of religious contrition — quite\u00a0unlike the passive\u00a0“solemnizing prayer” in an American military ceremony.\u00a0\u00a0Were a Marine to be forced to participate, without regard to his religious beliefs, it could potentially violate his religious freedom.\u00a0 In general, if a US military member\u00a0requested excusal from this or an equivalent event, the request would fall under religious accommodation — meaning it would have to be granted barring a greater mission need.\u00a0 It is difficult to think of circumstances under which it would be appropriate to require<\/em> US military members to kneel in a religious portion of a foreign military ceremony.<\/p>\n Given the demographics of the US today, it is not unreasonable to conclude the formation was made up of those who had no problem with such participation.\u00a0 They may have been more focused on\u00a0supporting their\u00a0Georgian team members than caring about “taking a knee;” they may\u00a0have been of a related Christian belief; or its entirely possible\u00a0they simply didn’t care<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0The feedback from the unit implies there were no issues on the Marines’ parts.<\/p>\n Despite the overt Christian conduct, this is not\u00a0an example of US\u00a0military Christians trying to take over the world,\u00a0nor is\u00a0the possibility\u00a0that Islamic extremists might be offended at the Christian ceremony sufficient to\u00a0justify restricting\u00a0liberty —\u00a0contrary to the frequent\u00a0claims of Michael Weinstein and his\u00a0MRFF.<\/p>\n The\u00a0participatory act does\u00a0make this a unique situation.\u00a0 There would have been no <\/em>issue, for example, had the unit stood silently\u00a0as the Georgians received their blessing\u00a0— regardless <\/em>of the religious beliefs of the individual\u00a0Marines.\u00a0 (It is unlikely there would have been offense on the part of the Georgians.\u00a0 If there had been, it would be a teachable moment for religious freedom — though ultimately it would reside in the purview of the diplomats.)\u00a0 Much like the prayers that sometimes occur in US military ceremonies, simply being around others who are praying does not foist religion upon the listener.<\/p>\n It’s possible the “controversy” over religion and the military\u00a0is stronger\u00a0outside <\/em>the military than\u00a0within <\/em>it.\u00a0 For their part, the Marines in this unit might be surprised to learn this is an issue at all — as it overshadows their mission\u00a0of\u00a0showing the US military’s interaction with an ally in Afghanistan.\u00a0 Still, the US military takes its protection of troops’ religious freedom seriously, as many examples attest — and it respects the customs of other nations’ freedoms as well.\u00a0 This pre-deployment formation was no different.\u00a0 The participation by a US military unit was entirely permissible, as was the participation of individual Marines — so long as any who requested accommodation (if any did) were granted it.<\/p>\n These Marines and their Georgian friends are now fighting together in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n May God watch over them both.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.christianfighterpilot.com\/images\/georgiakneel.jpg\")
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![kneeling formation<\/a>, helmets removed,\u00a0are Marines.\u00a0(](\"http:\/\/www.marines.mil\/unit\/mctag\/PublishingImages\/NewsStoryImages\/110408-M-6607M-008.jpg\"){kind=link}