Air Force Academy admits coercive proselytizing.
The LA Times reports that a Pentagon investigation determined that evangelicals and “born again” Christians had improperly attempted to convert members of other religions.
The conclusions by a team from Air Force headquarters acknowledged Christian professors used their positions as officers and authority figures to promote their faith.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. It is highly unethical and a breach of military discipline for senior officers to "sell" anything to juniors. Whether it’s religion or Amway being sold, it’s inherently coercive.
The military is inherently coercive, and that’s a very good thing. When the military engages in military operations of any nature, the Commanding Officer has nearly absolute responsibility to accomplish the assigned mission as well as nearly unfettered authority to issue and enforce orders needed to complete the mission. The extent of a Commanding Officer’s authority can be demonstrated by events involving General Joseph Stillwell in the China/ Burma/India Theater during World War II. As he became Commanding General of allied forces in the area, the Chinese government balked at putting Chinese soldiers under the direct command of a foreigner. They agreed to do it only on condition that Stillwell’s authority over Chinese officers and soldiers was limited so that he could only summarily execute enlisted men and officers under the rank of major.
If the Commanding Officer has complete responsibility for the accomplishment of the mission, he also needs nearly unfettered authority. Now, the Commanding officer of U.S. forces cannot summarily execute subordinates, but he has full discretion to court martial subordinates or to break careers.
For that reason, it’s unprofessional for the Commanding officer to use his office to impose, “suggest” or otherwise “market" anything to subordinates.
This is not about the free exercise of religion, which the military strongly encourages. I went to a different service academy and attendance at religious services was mandatory. My fellow cadets were various shades of Protestant, Mormon, Catholic, Buddhist, Sikh and Jewish. Each was required to attend weekly services. Additionally, the chaplains of the various faiths strongly supported each Cadet’s right to religious expression without any attempt at proselytizing. I don’t know why the Air Force Academy Superintendent fell down on the job and I don’t understand why the chaplains dropped the ball, either.
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