Tag Archives: character

Former Army Secretary Eric Fanning Wrong on Character

Former Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning — known most widely as the “first openly homosexual” Service Secretary — took to Time.com last Friday to support the effort to allow transgenders to serve in the US military.

In so doing, he promoted a common canard — that the US military must accept everyone, regardless of sexual proclivities or behavior — because, well, America:

I know first-hand the need for our military to attract the best talent, regardless of their race, national origin, gender identity or sexual orientation…

Our Read more

US Navy Chaplains: Character Matters

At the behest of the Chief of Naval Operations, the US Navy Chaplaincy has begun a summer campaign hashtagged “#CharacterMatters.” According to the Chaplaincy’s release on the subject, CNO Adm John Richardson

challenged us to “actively strengthen our shipmates’ integrity,” so that the entire Navy team, as an institution, behaves in a way that is “consistent with the values that we profess.”

It’s a fascinating opportunity — and one that could be easily missed. For example, it Read more

Air Force Teaches Values During “Airman’s Week”

The Air Force has been executing a little-known program for the past two years as a stepping stone gap-filler between Basic Training, which turns “civilians into Airmen,” and Technical School, where new Airmen go to learn the specifics of their career field. The course, called “Airman’s Week,” is designed as a

values-based course with a mission to “develop professional, resilient Airmen, inspired by our heritage, committed to the Air Force core values and motivated to deliver airpower for America.”

Professional, resilient, inspired by heritage, and “motivated to deliver airpower” all Read more

US Air Force Publishes “Fake News” on Gender Barrier

The US Air Force’s 99th Air Base Wing at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada, recently published an article describing the creation of an Air Force women’s rugby team. Entitled “Ruck ‘n’ Roll: AF rugby program breaks gender barrier,” Public Affairs officer SSgt Siuta Ika said

…19 women from the Air Force — active-duty, Guard and Reserve — formed the service’s first official women’s rugby team.

Lisa Rosen, a former Air Force Academy and USA Rugby collegiate All-American coach, was hand-picked to serve as the team’s head coach and said she sees a lot of similarities between women breaking through the “divide” in rugby and women serving the military in combat positions.

Beyond that, no where in the article does Ika describe what “gender barrier” was “broken” by the Airmen choosing to play a sport. There is no indication Read more

Army Secretary on the Service and Society

“What drives me personally is the view that the more the Army looks like society and the more voices we can bring in, the stronger that we’re gonna be.”
— Eric Fanning, outgoing Secretary of the Army

The idea that it is good for the US military to reflect society has been around for a long time — but it is predicated on an underlying assumption: That is, society is decent, honorable, and of moral character.

If society is not those things, then the military shouldn’t “look like” society — rather, it should be made up of men and women who are better than the average of society. The perception (truth notwithstanding) that Read more

Homosexuality has made the US Military Stronger than Ever

Multiple news outlets reported on Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter’s statement about the 5-year anniversary of the repeal of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The most quoted line:

I am proud to report that five years after the implementation of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” our military…is stronger than ever…

In reality, that statement doesn’t say anything. Insert just about any subject matter and time period and the sentence’s assertion wouldn’t change.

The implication, though, and the conclusion trumpeted by gay rights advocates, is that the US military is stronger because of the repeal of DADT.

Naturally, Read more

General Marty Dempsey: There Are No Atheists in Foxholes

dempsey3Almost exactly a year ago, US Army General Martin Dempsey was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — the top ranking uniformed member of the US military and primary military advisor to the President. Known for his humility and his penchant for singing, he was not as publicly known for his faith — something that appears to be showing now that he is retired.

Appearing at Duke University on September 8th, now-retired Gen Dempsey spoke of his experiences with morality, religion, and faith in the US military — including his agreement with the belief that “there are no atheists in foxholes” [emphasis added]:

“You know that thing about ‘there’s no atheist in a foxhole?’ It’s true,” Dempsey said.

“There was none of this, ‘oh my gosh you shouldn’t be praying in your uniform, let’s keep separation of church and state’ — you go into something like Baghdad, you’re going to say a prayer before, during and after.”

The timing was surely a coincidence, but General Dempsey’s Read more

USAFA NCLS: Transgenders, Medals of Honor, and Chick-fil-A

The US Air Force Academy National Character and Leadership Symposium has become an annual Who’s Who of military and national celebrities — and rarely does it shy away from controversy.

Last week, attendees were able to hear from, among others:

  • Aaron Belkin, homosexual advocate, speak on repealing the transgender ban
  • Chaplain (MajGen) Dondi Costin, Air Force Chief of Chaplains, on “Go Pro or Go Home”
  • US Army SSgt Salvatore Giunta, Medal of Read more
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