Latest Air Force Academy Info

I don’t want JIG to turn into the Air Force Academy News Network, but I know this is a hot topic to a lot of our readers. I’ll try to maintain balance by combining the vast number of articles I have into a few jam-packed posts. So here’s what’s new in a nutshell:

• The school superintendent admits there is a big problem, but it will take 6 to 8 years to fix. 92 percent of Christian faculty and staff members say people at the academy respect individuals whose religious views and faiths are different from theirs, while only half of the non-Christians concurred. (Full Article)
   

  This issue is very insidious, Rosa said. It doesn’t automatically jump out at you. It’s been at the academy for a while, and it’s going to take a while to fix.

• Rabbi to the rescue! Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff (a former Navy chaplain) will advise Air Force leaders about recommendations by an Air Force task force and the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces. (Full Article)
   

  People in the military know their speech is limited, [Resnicoff] said, citing the example of a ban on advocating for political candidates while in uniform.

  You change from a citizen from whom we would want a contribution, to putting your life on the line – total commitment – and that commitment involves service before self, setting aside personal agendas, he said.

• Texas representative worries that he won’t be able to pray to Jesus. Some hot and bothered politicians weighed in during a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing to review a report from an Air Force task force. The focus of the meeting was on developing specific guidelines for appropriate religious expression. Testimony was heard from former chaplains and high-ranking officials at the AFA. (Full Article)
   

  The discussion prompted protests from several Christian lawmakers.

  “I’m a Christian,” Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, told witnesses. “Jesus Christ is my personal savior. I hope that doesn’t offend you.”

  He wondered whether he would be allowed to make that statement if he were a cadet at the academy.

  “If I do that, am I wrong, or is the cadet (who is) offended wrong?” he asked. “Throughout this whole discussion, I felt attacked because of my Christian beliefs.”

• Don’t forget the Muslims! This isn’t just an issue between Christians and Jews. Apparently, Muslim cadets were not excused from academy events in order to attend religious services. In a supreme act of outreach, it was a Jewish chaplain at the academy that took personal interest in their case and submitted their request. (Full Article)
   

  Afterward, “he came to us and told us, ‘I tried my best but I can’t do anything,’ ” the Muslim cadet said.

  “That gives us an impression that there’s somebody up there that’s creating problems…”

  Academy officials say they will work to adjust class schedules this fall to allow Muslims to attend worship services.

Clicking on the “Full Article” links will take you to the original articles by various newspapers.