A Stars and Stripes article describes a fairly unusual situation at the US Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul, South Korea, in which a Christian preschool is run by an Army chapel:
Garrison officials say a recent anonymous complaint prompted them to look at whether the Mustard Seed Preschool has been operating illegally Read more
An article at Army.mil notes some religious support teams spend so much time caring for others they may neglect their own well-being:
These RST’s work hard to provide moral, ethical and spiritual leadership to their units. On a weekly basis, they care for hundreds of Soldiers from diverse backgrounds and provide counseling for issues ranging from interpersonal relationships to combat stress…
“Compassion fatigue and burnout is a very real problem,” said Read more
Update: A broader official view of the Military Family Life Consultant (MFLC) can be seen at the official website.
In addition to providing chaplains and psychologists, the US military is also making contract civilian clinical counselors available to those who want confidential counseling. From the Army National Guard site on the subject, the DoD provides Military Family Life Consultants (MFLCs) who
are licensed clinicians with a Masters Degree and at least five years of experience in social work, counseling, or a related clinical discipline.
While psychologists or visits to base Mental Health might generate attention, the MFLC program is specifically designed to be Read more
Need military chaplains trained for ministry in combat?
There’s an app for that.
In an interesting use of modern technology, a Florida-based simulation contractor has received a research contract to develop a combat scenario trainer for chaplains:
Training-simulation engineers in Orlando are now crafting “serious-game” software to lead chaplains through a “virtual battlefield” in which Read more
If DADT repeal was such a benign ‘non-event,’ why are incidents like this erupting into scandals more than a year later?
The top lawyer in the US Marine Corps has reportedly told the Marine legal community that, to avoid “a stir” as seen at Fort Bragg, spouse groups operating on Marine installations must accept homosexuals:
The memo noted that spouses clubs and various other private institutions are allowed to operate on bases only if they adhere to a non-discrimination policy encompassing race, religion, gender, age, disability and national origin.
“We would interpret a spouses club’s decision to exclude a same-sex spouse as sexual discrimination because the exclusion was based upon the spouse’s sex,” the memo said.
This appears to be legal advice within the legal community and, as noted before, military lawyers do not make decisions about military policy (nor are they always right). However, the article does not cite a Marine policymaker Read more
In early December the Washington Times posted a lengthy article on the US Marines “expanding use of meditation training” — essentially, aspects of yoga and Eastern religions. The article was little different than the ones noted here over the past several years, documenting the increasing official acceptance — and even mandatory use — of the physical aspects of some Eastern religions.
More recently, the FRC‘s Tony Perkins criticized the military’s incorporation of “meditation:”
In the military, it’s out with God — and in with the goofy!…As part some new training, Marines are being asked to join weekly yoga and meditation classes…
Former Army Captain Elizabeth Stanley…insists the new age Read more
A quick article local to Fort Campbell notes the vast religious support structure provided to Army Soldiers at the sprawling base, as well as the troops’ demand for it:
There are over 50 chaplains and 50 chaplain assistants at Fort Campbell…There are seven chapels on post…
In addition to Catholic services, there are Protestant services for those who are Baptist, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Episcopal, Church of Christ, Assembly of God and other Protestant traditions, as well as Read more
Michael Weinstein’s Military Religious Freedom Foundation has long relied on “anonymous clients” to support its ends (to their detriment, thanks to Chris Rodda). Conveniently, the lack of detail helps Weinstein obfuscate the appearance of being a self-licking ice cream cone — of creating and then “saving” his own clients — and it sometimes helps his numbers, as when supporters provide both attributable and anonymous support to his cause.
Unfortunately, Weinstein has been caught in these machinations before, as in 2010, when the USAFA pagan lay leader, TSgt Brandon Longcrier, was quoted publicly in the local paper, and then suddenly those same quotes appeared in an “anonymous” message to the MRFF. Longcrier was already associated with the MRFF. In other words, the complaint originated from within the MRFF, despite Weinstein’s efforts to portray it otherwise.
Similarly, a band of brothers teamed up with Weinstein to protest the USAFA invitation given to retired Lt Clebe McClary. All but one of those participating in the public outcry were already activists associated with the MRFF — a fact they conveniently omitted, an obvious attempt to make their movement seem more “broad.”
In April of 2010, Akiva David Miller — also of the MRFF — wrote a letter to the MRFF complaining about religious symbolism in NASCAR. Again, a member of the MRFF was writing a public letter to the MRFF — all for public show.
In other words, these aren’t forlorn, helpless troops calling out to Weinstein to be their savior. They’re already “clients” of Weinstein, and they’re either volunteering or being solicited to pen diatribes that come across as pathetic and plaintive cries for help from the “repressed.”
Now, Weinstein’s done it again. In fact, Weinstein may have gone a step further and actually manufactured a complaint to fit his needs.
Yesterday, Weinstein released a message complaining about a “Jesus Manga” comic book, calling it “anti-Semitic” and saying it “may” be homophobic Read more