VCS Agrees with MRFF

Jason,

On the record:

VCS strongly agrees with MRFF: our Constitution prohibits a “religious test” for military service.

VCS is alarmed and outraged the military is using religion as a litmus test to determine a soldier’s fitness for duty, as such a test is absolutely unconstitutional.

http://www.truth-out.org/armys-fitness-test-designed-psychologist-who-inspired-cias-torture-program-under-fire66577

Furthermore, the Supreme Court has ruled that freedom of religion also means the Constitutional right to have no religion – to be an agnostic or an atheist.

VCS believes the military should be focusing on hiring more mental health professionals to fill the hundreds of current vacancies. The shortage of doctors means service members are often denied or delayed life-saving mental healthcare, in some cases leading to preventable suicides.

VCS believes the military should be launching an anti-stigma campaign to encourage veterans to seek care.

VCS believes the military, after nearly a decade of escalating suicides, should begin to hold top leaders accountable for failing to hire doctors and implement an anti-stigma campaign. Yes, that means firing top generals who refuse or who are unable to hire enough doctors. In our view, if the military needs more mental health professionals, the President has the authority to draft them from civilian practice or to pay civilian practitioners.

In any event, the religious portion of the fitness test should be halted immediately because it is unconstitutional.

Best, Paul.

—
Paul Sullivan
Executive Director
Veterans for Common Sense
www.VeteransForCommonSense.org