US Navy Sailors and Marines congregated on the USS New Orleans to take advantage of the chaplains’ support for Ash Wednesday. Navy Chaplain (Lt) Paul Armstrong supported the practice of the sailors’ and Marines’ religious beliefs:
“Freedom of religion is one of our constitutional Read more
The Jewish Community Centers (JCC) Association has decided to present its Jewish Military Leadership Award to Rear Admiral Herman Shelanski, commander of USS Harry S Truman strike group. The group said the reasons include RAdm Shelanski’s
consistent concern for the ability of Jews in the Navy to fully express their Jewish identity while they serve their country.
As commander of the carrier USS Harry S Truman, RAdm Shelanski Read more
The Washington Post‘s “On Faith” section contains an article entitled “Chaplains hear call to serve God while serving country.” The article covers the stories of several chaplains in the US military who were first serving as regular sailors or soldiers until they Read more
The Virginian-Pilot adds information to the story of US Navy Captain Timothy Dorsey, who shot down an Air Force F-4 during a training exercise in 1987. Turns out the pilot he shot down has issues with Dorsey’s promotion:
Dorsey’s…critics, including the pilot he shot down, say he should have been forced out of the service more than two decades ago. Some said they are contacting their senators to ask that his appointment be stopped.
The pilot Dorsey shot down, Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Ross, Read more
A Naval flight training class graduation included a ceremony at their base chapel in which the chaplains performed a “blessing of the wings:”
This is a completely voluntary program, but one that is rather popular among many of the new aviators. While it is billed as a non-denominational ceremony, it is clearly a Christian program that culminates in the Catholic priest sprinkling holy water on the wings that these service members are about to pin on later that day.
Normally, this might bring conspiracy-theory advocates out of the woodwork, claiming this was further evidence of a secret coup by Christians to take over the world. Or something. Turns out, though, this story is actually about the participation by the US Navy’s newest Jewish Naval Aviators, in a Read more
The Washington Times notes with thick irony the story of US Navy Captain Timothy Dorsey, an IG for a Navy Reserve detachment who has been nominated for promotion to Admiral — and who has an interesting history. As also reported at the Military Times:
The incident took place Sept. 22, 1987. Then-Lt. Dorsey, 25, [piloting an F-14] shot down an RF-4C jet over the Mediterranean while operating off the carrier Saratoga, according to a 1988 Associated Press story on the Navy’s report. The two Air Force crewmen ejected safely…
While he knew he was taking part in an exercise, Read more
In an interesting turnabout, the Air Force is responding to a tightening budget by canceling the much vaunted RQ-4 Global Hawk program and extending the life of the manned U-2 it was intended to replace. The decision reportedly affects the Block 30 Global Hawk, but not the Block 40 or Navy variants.
The Air Force wants to terminate the Block 30 Northrop Read more
US Navy Captain Owen Honors, removed from his command of the USS Enterprise over videos he made in prior years, is set to retire in April. His “XO Movie Nights” from 2006 and 2007 were forwarded to the media last year. Despite an otherwise remarkable lead up to his command, he was fired.
Previously, a review board found fault with his conduct but did not require that he be removed from the service.