In early September, the Associated Press made waves when it decided to publish a photograph of a mortally wounded Marine against the wishes of the Marine’s family. Regrettably, lost in the controversy was the story of the Marine himself. He was a young Christian man who gave up his life in the way he lived it: in the service of others.
Lance Corporal Joshua M. “Bernie” Bernard Read more
The blog of Operation Reveille, which says it is “Helping Service Personnel with Cross-Cultural Ministry,” has some interesting advice regarding how to handle potentially controversial situations in the current combat theatre.
For example: Can I give a Bible when asked? Read more
The integration of Chaplains in US military operations is so seamless that it is actually difficult to read a story about ongoing combat operations without hearing about the role of the military’s spiritual advisors. In a recent piece at the LA Times about the commander’s changing tactics in Afghanistan, the reporter happens to describe a Chaplain riding in an MRAP with soldiers: Read more
The Air Force has graduated its first class of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) pilots that included officers who had never attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). That is, they are the first UAV pilots who were not formerly a pilot of some other military aircraft. The class was composed of 10 pilots and 9 sensor operators. Eight of the pilots were non-aviators; there is a second similar class in training behind them.
The increasing demand for UAVs in Iraq and Afghanistan–as well as the desire to keep military pilots in cockpits–led to the “experiment” Read more
As previously noted, Air Force Captain George Bryan Houghton was killed in an F-16 crash in June. A report from the Air Force Times says that the Air Force investigation determined Houghton’s inexperience in a challenging maneuver at night contributed to the crash.
Houghton was reportedly an experienced pilot, but Read more
President Barack Obama presented the parents of Sergeant First Class Jared Monti with his posthumous Medal of Honor last Thursday. The official ceremony was attended by government officials, civilians, and military members, including the surviving members of the patrol that engaged in the firefight that took Monti’s life.
The sacrifice that SFC Monti made reflected the greatness of character that embodies the American spirit. Unfortunately, much of the coverage of Monti’s award focused on the fact that no living military member has received the Medal of Honor during the long-running wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
On the other hand, it was interesting to note where very little attention was given, despite the display of allegedly controversial conduct that occurred–not once, but twice–during the ceremony. The President, members of Congress, military Generals and leaders, all on national television, were led by a uniformed officer in an overtly religious act.
They prayed.
It was tradition. It was fitting. It was right.
If you believe some people, though, it was also illegal. Read more
While still a baby in comparison with its Navy and Army brethren, the US Air Force is now celebrating 62 years as an independent branch of the American armed forces.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, a Navy Admiral, delivered birthday greetings that recalled how Read more
A short Washington Post article describes Chaplain (Lt.) Ray F. Rivers, a 45 year old Marine Lieutenant and Chaplain from South Carolina. The Chaplain is growing a beard to facilitate his meetings with local Islamic and political leaders, leading one Marine to say he “looks like Sting.”
As he demonstrates, Chaplains serve servicemembers, but they also serve the mission.