“CONCERNED AIR FORCE OFFICER’S E-MAIL ADDRESS WITHHELD

To the MRFF: so much has been said on-line, in the newspapers (Gazette) and by many others. I don’t think my view below is unique, but I thought I’d share it anyway. I view doing this as part of my oath to support and defned the Constitution of the United States. Signed, A concerned Air Force officer.

It is both coercive and divisive for senior government or military leaders to hold an event devoted to prayer or to endorse attendance at such an event via a base-wide e-Mail.[1]

This action is independent of the speaker chosen, because such an event gives government a sponsoring interest in prayer and establishes the belief among those serving in the organization that prayer is a necessary act for honorable service within that institution.

Religious services and activities are provided by chaplains at on-base military facilities as a part of the support they provide to military members. These events are publicized by the chaplains and it’s usually quite clear to all those assigned to the base that they are completely voluntary. Senior leaders (and others) may attend these events as they wish, they may choose to attend similar off-base services, or they may choose to not participate in religious activities at all. It would be considered extraordinary these days for them to announce that they are attending any specific events or even to endorse a unique event corresponding to a particular religion or spiritual viewpoint—I can’t remember that happening in my years here. (I doubt if more than a handful of personnel at USAFA could tell you the religious “schedule” of any of the mission element leads.) Similarly, while they rightly encourage subordinates to partake of whatever spiritual support they may desire, they would not take any coercive action to make such support mandatory or accountable in any way.

However, when senior leaders act to facilitate and endorse a base-wide event like a National Day of Prayer, during the duty day, using government e-mail, it’s clear to all subordinates that they consider the event to be important to the mission. Their endorsement of this event presumes that everyone prays or should feel the need to pray. Repeated e-mails and mention at mandatory meetings reminding subordinates of the event and the opportunity to attend reinforces that feeling—even if those messages are to declare that “this is a strictly voluntary event.”

If attendance were mandatory, then those pushing the event couldn’t be sure if those attending agreed with their stance on prayer or were just there following orders. By repeatedly stressing the optional nature of the luncheon, one wonders if these leaders are trying to better identify like-thinking comrades, and in turn, what preferential treatment those comrades may receive for being seen as sharing the senior leaders’ commitment to prayer.

In last year’s landmark ruling (currently under appeal) on the Constitutionality of a National Day of Prayer, US District Court Judge Barbara Crabb stated that: “In fact, it is because the nature of prayer is so personal and can have such a powerful effect on a community that the government may not use its authority to try to influence an individual’s decision whether and when to pray.” Especially in a hierarchical military organization, this government influence should not be present.

Prayer is not a necessary or sufficient action to demonstrate or execute honorable military service in defense of the United States of America and its Constitution. Prayer is not a mission of the United States Air Force Academy no matter how many cadets, faculty, and staff choose to practice it (as is their right under the Constitution—a right that I will defend with my life). The job of senior leadership is to guide and resource faculty, staff, and cadets as they accomplish the mission of the Academy—to produce leaders of character for the United States Air Force. It is not to define, organize, and endorse specific spiritual practices that they, personally, may find helpful or strengthening, but remain a matter a personal choice for all Americans and airmen.

[1]USAF Academy Base-Wide E-Mail of 7 Jan 20011 with the headline text as follows:
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SENT ON BEHALF OF THE 10TH ABW [Air Base Wing] VICE COMMANDER
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(NAME, RANK, MILITARY INSTALLATION, AIR FORCE POSITION AND TITLE WITHHELD)