Jewish Life in the Military
I’m not quite sure how I missed this, but back in February, American Jewish Life Magazine published what I consider to be the most in-depth article to-date on Jewish life in the military. An Army of Some, by Bradford R. Pilche, highlights the experience of a Jewish Marine who served in Kuwait and Iraq and includes other stories of Jewish military service and some history of the chaplaincy.
Jews in America’s military face great obstacles. Anti-Semitism, kosher rations, days off for religious holidays, and that’s just boot camp. In the armed forces, to be different is no blessing. Jewish soldiers, as much as anyone, have endured the suffering that comes with that difference, but the story of their service marches on.
The Marine subject, Michael Kirschner, does not tell a pleasant tale of Jewish life in the Corps. While I don’t think his is a typical experience, it’s not entirely unheard of. The author seems to want to focus on the bad things that happen, but there are enough positive voices in the article to make it well balanced.
The important thing to do is to stop reading my review and go check out the full article.
Well, I have to comment on this from my perspective in the Army. I’m 39, did Basic at Ft. Sill, and AIT at Ft. Sam Houston.
My Drill Sargeants went out of their way to see that I had first choice of vegetarian MRE’s, and got me Kosher MRE’s later in training. They made sure I got to Friday night services. I did not get Saturdays off. But I felt that by serving in the military I was entitled to some leeway.
I arrived at AIT just five days before Passover, and made a request of my DS, and he found me a Jewish soldier who was attending a small service that week and made sure I got that event.
Most of the soldiers I met in basic had never even met a Jew, let alone had a conversation with one. I led by example, and not once did I have any problems with anti-Semitism. I wish I could say the same for my younger years, but that was in the 1970’s and in Europe.
From this Jew’s experience the Army was reasonable and respectful. But I am not Orthodox, and therefore have fewer constraints.
I’m glad to see a positive voice speak out on this. I too have had far more positive experiences than negative.
The official military policy is to support the religious practices of service members and to swiftly discipline acts of discrimination. Occasionally we run into individuals that don’t subscribe to this policy, but if you speak to the right person I’m confident that the right thing will be done.
I think bayendor makes a good point in that he or she led by example and set a positive standard for other Jews to follow. It is equally important for non-Jews in the chain of command to see a positive example. Often time you are responsible for “introducing them to Judaism” and your actions establish their ideas of what to expect from Jewish troops.
Whew! These are pretty heavy accusations! I wonder if this is the ‘norm’.
Is one’s experience dependent upon the goodwill and understanding of their sergeant? If you’re stuck with an anti-semite can he make your life a ‘living hell hole’? Does one have other recourse?
I don’t know, but would imagine, that the enlisted person’s attitude and willingness to compensate with other duties would go a long way toward one’s ability to enable Shabbat and Holiday observances.
Dee
Dee,
Yes, often times “ones’ experience is dependent on the goodwill and understanding of their sergeant.” That is a pretty good statement that fits almost any aspect of military life (just change sergeant to a higher rank as you get promoted).
In regards to religious practice, the sergeant (or whomever he or she is) is not the end all-be all. If you run into problems, there are many avenues that you can take to correct the problem. If one does have to take action, then person’s attitude and flexibility will make a difference in the final decision.
We don’t live in a secret camp. If there is a problem and it is exposed, it will be taken care of. The problem is that certain units may breed an atmosphere where one feels they can’t speak up. This is less a failure on the military as a whole as it is on the unit leaders that allow that kind of environment to develop.
Well, then even bigger kudos to those that stick to their religion, despite the many hardships!
It motivates me even more to try and help DLA expand the availability of Jewish supplies.
Dee
Dee:
Continuing the thread of this conversation:
It’s very much about how you set the example for those to follow. Its also having the knowledge that you are entitled to certain relgious rights in the military. True, it is easy in a training environment to be dissuaded from pursuing your religion. But the greatest value of this web site in my eyes is making the information available to those that go into the service.
As far as availability of Jewish supplies, I want to put out a special thank you to the Aleph Institute for making tefillin available to service members. I never used to wrap when I prayed, but I do now. I have become more observant since I joined the military, not less. In no small part due to the need to remind those around me that the Jews are not some extinct tribe that they read about in the Bible, and to maintain my identity in the face of so many Evangelical influences.
SPC David Bayendor, USAR
All,
From the Australian perspective, I would be considered ‘very’ religious. I wear a trimmed beard and ascribe to keeping Mitzvot. I have been in the Australian Army now for over 2 years, I’m an Officer Cadet and am due to graduate in Feb.
From my experiences, I have been treated respectfully. They get me kosher meals in barracks, allow time for prayer, kippah and to a limited degree shabbat observance. However, I have suffered on a different level in that because I stand out I attract heat. This comes in the form of exagurated negative reports and ultimately career limitations. I am seriously considering taking my beard off before attending my final period at OCS school (RMC in Aust), just to get some heat off me. Also I have had to make compromises in Yiddishkeit namely shabbat observance to remain where I am. However I look at the greater message generated to all of having a ‘frum’ Jew in the military and this justifies my continuation. Also on a personal level this is something I enjoy and am proud to be a part of.
Bottom line, what I am doing is not for everyone but I feel this is important to have in existance.
Regards,
My daughter is an Airman based near Spokane, Washington… She was raised in a Conservative home, but like many post bar/bat mitzvah, fell away. She has indicated a renewed interest and I’d like to feed her some resource sites. I’ve passed on this site… Any other suggestions related to Jews in the military?
She is heading to McGuire AFB for a two week training. She will be there for Rosh Hashanah.. How do I help her find a shul? A yontif meal? Ideas?
Thanks
I have to write concerning this. I am under the assumption that being Frum in other branches of the military has been made a lot easier. The Marine corps is different. In boot camp, we had nothing remotely close to a Shabbos, though we did have a couple of hours on sunday to daven and about three minutes counted in the evening to do the same. We recieved no Kosher meals, although if you were a Fox company Jew you took vegetarian. And to be bruitally honest, in bootcamp antisemetism was common and for the most part tolerated. In combat training most of your peers were generous enough to ask which meats you could eat and which you couldn’t. My rack mate was kind enough to trade me ones that I could eat.
Observance is by no means easy in the Marine corps. But there are people who are willing to help you out.
I have to say I was shocked at reading his account. My dad served 30 years in the Reserves and never once had issues like this. I beleave he should of taken more time to reserch how his religon would of affected his military career, insteed of taking the recruiters word on it. So he could of made an informed desision.
“Like several other chaplains and soldiers interviewed for this story, he indicated he wouldn’t advise very observant Jews to join the military. “I would advise them to seek other ways to serve their country, because there are many ways,” says Resnicoff.”
“What I think I’ve found is that you need to be flexible,” explains Zalma when asked how a Jew can fit their religion into military life. “You have to have a minyan. Some say in the Navy, three is a minyan, because you have so few chances for people to come together and worship as a community. ”
This puts it in perspective.
All:
Having served 30 years on active duty, I have on very few occasions experienced anti-semitism. Most of the failures to accommodate my Judaism have been from ignorance rather than antipathy.
I have found that many of my non-Jewish and Jewish supervisors have encouraged me to be observant, once I have educated them (but not to the point of beating them over the head with it).
The only problem that I’ve endured throughout my career is the non-availability or willingness to order kosher food. However, there are enough items available in the local marketplace that have an acceptable hechsher (kashrus certification) that I’ve been able to find plenty to eat.
I would encourage Jews to join the military, but for a frum from birth (Orthodox Jew) or a Ba’al Teshuvah, like myself, it would be extremely difficult as an active duty serviceman or woman, unless you are in the Chaplaincy or Medical profession. Unfortunately, over the course of my 30 year career, I have met few Jews on active duty in the military. Most of the Jews I have met, oppose military service or think of it as an occupation of last resort for ne’er-do-wells.
Well that’s all for now…. Keep up the good work JIG!
Semper Paratus, Moishe Lewack….