Army Says Atheists Unfit to Serve

[AnimatedDirt]

You were in in the same years as I was.  What bases?  My PDS was Carswell, in Fort Worth.

I was mostly at Hill AFB, UT as a 553xx, Engineering Asst.  Did a short tour at JTFB, Honduras.

I was on my way in as you guys were both on your way out. '93  to '97, Ground Radio Communications Specialist; Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc, CA.    In hindsight, I should've wished for overseas.

[Sophus]

A video well worth watching. Keith Olbermann bringing awareness and shedding some light on this issue.

[RyB17]

I can't say I'm surprised to see this. The military doesn't want people to think for themselves! Why would the military want people questioning the events that led to the war or questioning why they are doing the things they are ordered to do. Legendarysandwich hit the nail on the head with his posts. I agree 100% with him.

[terranus]

Hi there. Did you know you can be smart and have a strong sense of duty, or get laid off and need a job, or have no way to turn those smarts into a degree ala the G.I Bil, or just be really into military culture, or have the required degree needed to become an officer, or pick a non combat MOS (about 90% are) that translate well into a civillian job, or be seeking a top secret clearence which can get you a 6 figure salary for a job you have no qualifications for but it can take 7 years for a civillian to get same clearence, or mabye you just like being paid to blow shit up. Just saying.


*edit* Dang it. I guess I could have just said "What Sofus said." and called it a post.

Yeah, it's a common misperception among non-military people that everyone in the military has one of 3 jobs. They don't understand that there are different jobs within the military. All they know is: If you're in the Army, you're out in the battlefield shootin' guns; If you're in the Air Force, you're flying planes; and if you're in the Navy, you're out at sea on a boat.

I'm actually a cook in the AF...so you can imagine the crazy looks I get when non-military ppl ask me what I do in the AF if I don't fly planes. Definitely one of the least combat-neccessary jobs in the military, working in the services field...although the AF rations are pretty risky in themselves.  

[fester30]

But dem dangnabbit atheists and gays ain't fit to serve in the military!We need sum real 'Mericans to kill off those terrorists that are threatening the 'Merican way of life!

Not all religious people in the military are southern waffle house rejects.  Some of the most intelligent military members I have known were very outspoken in their religious beliefs.  Doesn't excuse the way their beliefs are so intertwined with the service.  There's a prayer "in the name of Jesus" at nearly every official ceremony.  I often wonder how the Muslims and Jews feel at those moments.  The Jew can pray to himself, but if the Muslim unrolls a carpet and gets on his knees while this is going on, there would be a riot.  I was still a Christian my last re-enlistment, but I elected to go prayer-less simply because I wasn't sure if everybody attending was Christian, and I wasn't going to ask.  Even our military laws have a little religious tone left in them, as society has long-since moved on.  Sodomy is a crime even a happily married service member could be charged with if he or she does just about anything but missionary position.  Adultery is still a crime.  I most often hear "good order and discipline" as an excuse for keeping it, but that argument doesn't hold water.  It's a long argument, so I'll leave it off here for now.  

Anyway, that this new test has spiritual fitness, and the fact that a raving mad Jihadist in suicide bomber training would score better than me, doesn't really surprise me.  Someday I hope the military gets its head on straight when it comes to social issues.  It's a department of the federal government, and the only department that openly and without shame violates church/state separation with almost no fear of recourse or consequences.

[history_geek]

"Ah! The generals! They are numerous but not good for much!" - Aristophanes

Thinking especially, it seesms (quotes from Rome: TW FTW   )