2/11/16 MRFF Demand Letter Re: Armed Green Beret Chaplains
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Thursday, February 11, 2016
Patrick J. Murphy
Acting Secretary of the Army
101 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-0101
Dear Mr. Acting Secretary Murphy:
I am writing to express the Military Religious Freedom Foundation’s great concern that Army Chaplains are attending assault training and even carrying weapons.
The Army recently posted an online article entitled “Special Forces Tab, Green Beret, SFQC – A Vehicle For Chaplains” (see addendum, pages 3-5). The article tells the stories of three Army Chaplains – Chaplain (Capt.) Mike Smith, Chaplain (Maj.) Timothy Maracle, and Chaplain (Maj.) Peter Hofman – who have completed the Special Forces Qualification Force (“SFQC”). While the article highlighted the sense of camaraderie with Special Forces soldiers these Chaplains claim such training fostered, it neglected to mention that these Chaplains are violating Army Regulations.
Army Regulation 165-1 states:
3-1f. Noncombatant. Chaplains will not bear arms in combat or in unit combat skills training. Chaplains function as protected personnel under the Geneva Convention and are noncombatants as a matter of Army policy (see FM 27-10). Chaplain activities in religious support operations will not compromise the noncombatant status. (emphasis added)
As you know, violation of an Army Regulation is punishable under the provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. While only Chaplain (Maj.) Hofman admitted to carrying a weapon, it can safely be presumed that all three of these Chaplains used weapons while participating in the SFQC. Consequently, the Army should punish this clear violation, rather than praising it as a “vehicle for Chaplains.”
This regulation is necessary for the protection of Chaplains, as well as all others granted noncombatant status, such as medical personnel. It is designed to allow, even in war, for the spiritual care of combatants and POWs. If a handful of Chaplains violate this very clear regulation, the enemy has no reason to honor the protected status of any noncombatant.
While these Chaplains apparently believe that going through SFQC and carrying weapons helps them connect with the Special Forces soldiers they will counsel, MRFF submits it will actually have the opposite effect. In the article, Chaplain (Maj.) Hofman directly compared his mission with Special Forces with the mission of Jesus. As if that weren’t enough of a problem, he did so while carrying a weapon. The chilling effect such conviction while armed will have on the willingness of soldiers to seek counsel from him can only be monumental.
Regardless of any benefits these Chaplains believe are received from completing SFQC and carrying weapons, the nature of the military is to obey orders even if doing so causes great risk to that soldier’s own life. We demand that the Army Regulations be obeyed and that these Chaplains be disciplined for their violations as required by the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Respectfully,
Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, Esq.
Founder and President
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
CC:
Hon. Ruth S. Vetter, Esq. – Director, Standards of Conduct Office, Department of Defense General Counsel
Gen. Mark A. Milley, U.S. Army Chief of Staff
CH (MG) Paul K. Hurley, Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
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Sad to say, but the Armed Forces are not the only depts of the government at all levels that play fast & loose with the Constitution & the laws of the land nowasays..
These 3 chaplains (2 majors & a captain) certainly are not greenhorns who can claim that they have never heard of such regulations!!
They had to APPLY FOR THIS SPECIAL TRAINING among a host of candidates, so THEY WERE AWARE OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING!!
They are frankly being deliberately disobedient to the rules… and should be given a dishonorable discharge for their behavior.
The US military is faced with limits of funds available for training. This seems to me to have been a waste of three training spaces better used for those who perform the mission.
Mr. Weinstein, with all due respect, but the Taliban, Al-Queda and ISIS do not observe the Geneva Convention!! This is not WWII where the warring nations did observe it, but even then German soldiers would shoot at US medics. If I were a chaplain in a battle zone like Afghanistan or Iraq, I would like to have a side arm to defend myself from those who would want to capture me. Here is an article online in the UK Mail where the Royal Navy chaplains who are assigned to front line units with the Royal Marines and commandos wan the right to have a side arm – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-495281/Navy-chaplains-want-right-carry-weapons-protect-Taliban.html
Another case in point, chaplains in the Israel Defense Forces carry fully automatic weapons – https://www.quora.com/Do-military-chaplains-ever-carry-weapons
As a military chaplain, I would rather go out a martyr for Christ, than to surrender willingly to Islamic terrorists who will chop off my head.
The higher-level people who permitted these chaplains to take the SFQC are just as guilty and deserving of punishment, if not more so than, the chaplains who took the course.
This has got to be the most asinine letters ever created by anyone on the face of the planet Earth. Apparently the goal is to put the chaplains harms way and unprotected so ISIS can have more Christian martyrs. The chaplains should file a lawsuit against MRFF for an attempt to endanger their welfare and lives.
“Mr. Weinstein, with all due respect, but the Taliban, Al-Queda and ISIS do not observe the Geneva Convention!! This is not WWII where the warring nations did observe it, but even then German soldiers would shoot at US medics.”
YW, the Japanese and the Russians by and large did not care about the Geneva Conventions. BTW, you had British and Americans shooting POWs or not taking prisoners. There was an incident under Patton’s command in Sicily where 73 Axis POWs were gunned down. BTW, you probably had German medics killed in Normandy by Allied medium and heavy bombers when the Allies tried to blast through the German lines by using heavy bombers to wipe out the German positions.
BTW, when you have an insurgency/guerilla warfare, regular soldiers are not bound by the Geneva Convention to take prisoners and the same can be said for insurgents/partisans.
“As a military chaplain, I would rather go out a martyr for Christ, than to surrender willingly to Islamic terrorists who will chop off my head.”
YW, why don’t you save the last bullet for yourself on the battlefield so the Islamic terrorists won’t have to chop your head off. Of course, if the terrorists chopped your head off after you are dead, you won’t feel a thing because you will be dead!!! Of course, you will probably be send to Hades because suicide is considered a sin in the Christian, and Jewish faith.
Retired, the chaplains put themselves in danger when they took the training. If they point guns at a someone, that someone is not going to have the time to determine whether that person is a chaplain or not. It is a question of you or I on the battlefield.
YW, i would advise to save the last bullet for yourself if you don’t want to surrender to the ISIS terrorists.
The Japanese and Russians by and large did not observe the Geneva Conventions and in partisan warfare, both sides are not bound by the Conventions to take prisoners. In the book, Invasion They’re coming, regarding the Battle of Normandy, there was a German medic who had a sidearm due to his experience in Russia and the American prisoners asks his commanding officer if he could ask to medic to remove his sidearms since the Geneva Convention forbid medical personnel from carrying weapons. The German officer agreed to the request and the German medic stated that he hopes that the American Army knows that he is a medic and is unarmed. Sadly, the German medic was killed in an American bombing raid.
YW, it doesn’t matter whether terrorists chopped your head off if you are alive or dead. Either way you will be dead, so be prepare to meet God, (if he really exists).
Yeshua Warrior:
If I read your comment correctly you are not in the United States armed forces. If you were and served as a chaplain in the United States Army you would be required to obey the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Department of Defense and Department of the Army regulations.
Chaplains in the Royal Navy and the Israeli Defense Forces are governed by their nations laws and military regulations. United States military personnel’s actions are not governed by the laws and regulations of those other nations. If you wish to operate by those policies please join the Royal Navy or the Israeli Defense Forces.
Retired:
If Army chaplains have any complaint about not being able to carry weapons their recourse is not to sue MRFF. Their recourse would be to try to get Army Regulation 165-1 changed by the Department of the Army.
I am retired from the Army National Guard and am a Vietnam veteran. When I enlisted in 1966 and again in 1985 I swore to obey the UCMJ, military regulations, and the orders of my superiors. I am also a seminary graduate and have served as a hospital chaplain. I was working to be commissioned as an Army chaplain when I become disabled and was forced to retire.
When a person enters the military as a chaplain and is commissioned as an officer he or she must obey the UCMJ, DoD and Army regulations, and the orders of superior officers. If a chaplain cannot serve without carrying a weapon, he or she should resign his or her commission and leave the US military.
@Weikenstien are you active duty? Has someone complained that a Chaplin received training on taking another human beings life? Why do you give a F@$&? People like you are are part of the reason why our government can’t get anything done because they are constantly inundated with whiney sh*& like this. You are right this is an atrosity we should immediately give this attention over EVERY OTHER MATTER currently on going in the word. Please do all of us who DO wear the uniform everyday state side and overseas a huge favor and pull your lip over your head and swallow.
No Will, it is people like you that makes it impossible to for the government to get anything done while Europe goes forth with free education, excellent public transportation system, affordable/free college education, etc.
Dear acting secretary Patrick Murphy” please firmly disregard mikey” Weinstein’s girlie-boy” response to Special forces protocol!As an Esquire”yikey-mikey””may not have even been a judge advocate, within any military parameters! Yikey-Mikeys”” pencil-pushing citation of army statute”165-1, is a clear example of a bored and frightened lawyer” procrastinating on the sex-change operation” he always envisioned himself having.If it were up to: Yikey-Mikey”….he’d sue Bruce Jenner”…for having the guts” and beating him to it”! The Chaplain/ Special Forces Amalgam ” is nothing less than inspirational and visionary”! Being an Operator” is a special privilege.And much like a chaplain is a calling from God”.There’s nothing wrong or unsavory” about a Chaplain who has the courage and fortitude” to lead with his Alpha crew.The Geneva convention by-laws” protect a chaplain to a certain degree, but insurgency” and radical hatred and Aversion to democratic Western States” to the degree that’s emerging in the middle east & Horn of Africa ( notwithstanding libya*) is a clear cut sign”…that the rules” are changing!A man of God” can always be counted on as a leader! And an Advisor!This makes perfect sense” in the war of attrition against radical Islam, As a new Chaplain emerges with a Skill-Set*that will garnish him not only respect with the company he keeps ” The alpha-detachment”….but respect from his enemies, and the enemies of this Great Nation. Special Forces is evolving to meet the needs of a new global engagement”… predicated upon Change and adaptive strategy. No where is this more evident then the chaplain/Operator/ Advisor role.Its the brilliant effulgence of leadership & Profound Capability, blended together to Effect full spectrum leadership! A challenge and proposition”” well above Mikey’s” paygrade” and mental disposition!If Yikey-Mikey” wants to make a name for himself I encourage him to leave the stoic venue of military law, in favor of an exciting career in International law, it has a higher shelf life, and if aquired by a Governmental agency” an infinitely more impressive paycheck. Heroics and the leaders mind-set”” is an area least understood by pencil-pushers” like Yikey-Mikey””! And his position is in stark contrast to the ideology and thinking of the 21st century Patriots and policymakers! Yikey-Mikey” hides behind regulations….as a means to avert attention to his own fledging career and jealousy for the chaplains potential I hope Mr.Murphy” you won’t be persuaded by Weinstein’s prejudice. Sincerely Yours, Cmdr.Rico de la Vega ,Naval Special Warfare Development Group
Sheppard’s carry staff (weapon) to protect their flock from danger and wolves. Along with Sheep dog (soldiers) to protect all including Sheppard.