Tag Archives: army

Army Joe Leads Platoon Through IEDs

McClatchy Newspapers originated an interesting article on the various new vehicles now fielded by the US military in its attempts to overcome the threats of IEDs.  The vehicles vary from hulking “buffaloes” to the single-man “Husky,” as driven by US Army SPC Joshua Joe:

Joe, a broad-built 22-year-old from Sumter, S.C., with the Lord’s Prayer tattooed on his bulging forearm, is one of the Husky drivers.

Joe’s platoon, which is part of Task Force Thor, prays together in a huddle before beginning a mission.

Read the full article.

Military Chaplains Aid in Suicide Prevention

As previously noted, Chaplains are an integral part of the Army’s efforts to combat the trend of Soldier suicides.  A recent Army press release details how Chaplains contribute to that cause:

Chaplains provide confidential counseling services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Wagner said. They refer those they counsel to other post resources when necessary. Chaplains also advise commanders during unit suicide prevention training, conducted quarterly.  Read more

Sikh Granted Exemption to Army Standards

The Sikh Coalition announced that the US Army had granted an exception to dress and appearance policies allowing Simran Preet Singh Lamba, an observant Sikh, to enter the Army and maintain his religious standards of appearance.

Lamba was reportedly recruited for his language skills.  He is the third Sikh behind Captains Tejdeep Singh Rattan and Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi to be granted such exceptions over the past year.

The Sikh Coalition notes that it is continuing to work to eliminate the policy altogether, so that Sikhs may serve without the necessity of seeking a special waiver.

Also noted at the Religion Clause.

Army Launches DADT Inbox

In a move that is apparently independent of the DoD DADT “inbox,” the US Army launched its own “DADT Inbox” last week:

The intent of the inbox is to help the Army assess and consider the impacts, if any, a change in ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law would have on operations, readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion, recruiting and retention, and family readiness.

The site will be available through the end of the month.

Islamic Group Calls Muslim Army Soldier “Traitor”

The American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) has called on the US Army to deny PFC Naser Abdo’s application for status as a Conscientious Objector (previously discussed).

“Muslims serve with distinction throughout the United States Military and AIFD sees Abdo’s traitorous public assertions as a slap in the face to all American Muslims especially those Muslims who fight in our armed forces for the liberty and freedom guaranteed by the American Constitution,” the group said in a statement it issued on Friday.

The group’s president, Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser (a former Navy officer), went one step further, saying the root of Abdo’s dissension with the US military was not Islam, but the very “Islamism that threatens our security:”

Abdo’s actions are an affront to every American Muslim who has proudly donned a U.S. military uniform. His assertions are not built on Islamic teachings but on a feeble adherence to the global political ideology of Islamism that threatens our security and radicalizes our Muslim youth.

The statement by the AIFD has a scathing rebuttal to Abdo’s claim Read more

Update: Chaplain Goetz Killed in Afghanistan

Updated with message from Army Chief of Chaplains.

As previously noted, US Army Chaplain (Capt) Dale Goetz was killed in Afghanistan earlier this week.  He evidently died fufilling his pastoral duties as a Chaplain, “fob-hopping” to support his “congregation” of military Soldiers:

Goetz was in a convoy traveling from one forward operating base to another, where he counseled soldiers.

MSNBC reports that he was the first Chaplain killed in combat since Vietnam, not unlike the story of Sgt Chris Stout, the Chaplain assistant killed in Afghanistan in July.  Notably, however, US Army Chaplain Tim Vakoc died in 2009, five years after being wounded in a similar set of circumstances: a roadside bomb on a return trip from ministering to troops.

The Army Chief of Chaplains released the following message:  Read more

US Army Chaplain Killed in Afghanistan

Reports indicate one of the four military members killed in a roadside bomb attack on Monday was Chaplain (Capt) Dale Goetz, US Army.  He was apparently deployed to Afghanistan from Fort Carson, near Colorado Springs, CO.

“He had a great burden for the soldiers,” said Jason Parker, pastor of High Country Baptist Church of Colorado Springs. “His specific prayer request was to see 300 soldiers come to Christ. He was also praying for God to call 10 of those soldiers into the ministry. That was one of his specific prayer requests.

“God was using him. He was very actively witnessing. He didn’t want to be just a social worker. He wanted to see soldiers hear the Gospel and trust Christ.”

He is survived by his wife and three children.

Muslim Soldier Claims Conscientious Objector Status

According to the Associated Press, US Army PFC Naser Abdo joined the Army last year but has since decided that his faith will not allow him to fight.

Abdo said when he joined the Army more than a year ago, he initially felt he could be a soldier and a Muslim at the same time. But he said he now believes Islamic standards would prohibit his service in the U.S. Army in any war.

According to documents provided to The Associated Press, Abdo cited Islamic scholars and verses from the Quran as reasons for his decision to ask for separation from the Army.

“I realized through further reflection that God did not give legitimacy to the war in Afghanistan, Iraq or any war the U.S. Army would conceivably participate in,” he wrote.

Abdo, for whom a “free Naser Abdo” website has been created, faces a similar problem as others who have thought about claiming CO status.  In order to be a CO Read more

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