The Associated Press notes the Blue Alliance, a “gay and lesbian alumni group” of “almost 100” US Air Force Academy graduates, will host a tailgate party at the Air Force-Army football game next month. They will also have their annual dinner on the USAFA campus. Despite their small size, they will have some interesting guests: Read more
It should take no one by surprise to hear Michael Weinstein say he plans to sue the US Air Force Academy. His latest:
Weinstein…said [his] organization will bring suit against the academy for the latest survey under a statute that permits citizens to sue on behalf of the government for waste and fraud.
Weinstein said MRFF will demand the removal of the academy’s superintendent, dean and commandant over the Gamble survey.
The “survey” referenced was the assessment by retired General Gamble. In his typical method of “ready, fire, aim,” Weinstein seems to willfully ignore Read more
The Air Force Times reports that the recent team led by General (ret) Patrick Gamble to assess the religious climate at the Air Force Academy found cadets were actually more fed up with bad press than they were at issue with their religious freedoms:
Air Force Academy cadets are happy overall with their level of religious freedom there but are distressed by the “constant negative press” the academy receives…
The AFTimes cited the MRFF as the source of the report, as it has not been publicly released; however, the AFTimes appears to have come to quite a different conclusion Read more
USAFA economics instructor R. David Mullin released a letter through the MRFF criticizing the most recent religious climate assessment. Pam Zubeck of the Colorado Springs Independent tried to get the Air Force to corraborate the MRFF ally’s description of the Religious Climate Review Team led by USAF General (Ret) Patrick Gamble:
In the statement, Mullin notes, “To my knowledge, none (of those in contact with the MRFF) will come forward with their stories of victimization by the establishmentarianists. Why? Because of what the Religious Climate Review Team is not. You are a former USAFA Commandant, another member is a former USAFA Dean of Faculty, and another was a USAFA Permanent Professor for over 30 years. Therefore, you cannot credibly claim that the team is disinterested.”
(Oddly, despite his criticism, it seems Mullin did “come forward” and speak to Gamble’s group.)
According to the CSIndy, the Air Force declined: Read more
According to the local Colorado Springs Independent, and repeated at other news sites, a former US Air Force Academy commandant and retired four-star General has been tasked to return to USAFA and review the religious climate.
As requested by the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Ret. Gen. Patrick Gamble will visit the academy to assess the religious climate.
“His visit is not an investigation or compliance inspection, but an independent, subjective look at the overall climate at USAFA relating to free exercise of religion,” the Air Force says in a statement. “A detailed report is not expected.”
Many of the networks that repeated the story, however, missed the far more interesting details…
Also noted at the Religion Clause.