MRFF Client USAFA Cadet Forced to Choose Between Her Religion and Key Training Day, Told that the Issue is Her “Being Jewish”
United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel Colorado
United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
In its latest slap in the face to Jewish cadets, the ever-religious-diversity-challenged Air Force Academy this year scheduled its “Commandant’s Challenge” on October 5, perfectly timed to fall right smack on Yom Kippur, the most solemn of all Jewish holy days, forcing Jewish cadets to choose between their religion and joining their much-preferred Christian counterparts in the semester’s most important training day.
Two days after the event, MRFF received an email from the parent of one Jewish cadet who was not only forced to make the agonizing decision to miss Yom Kippur services, but was told by a senior cadet in her chain of command that the issue was her “being Jewish,” suggesting that she at least “make an effort to try Christianity,” inviting her to a Bible study, and telling her that she wouldn’t be “converting away from Judaism” but rather that “Christianity is just enlightened Judaism.” In the words of her parent, this cadet was “humiliated beyond description” and was “was more despondent than we’d ever heard her before.”
This cadet’s demeaning experience is the unconscionable morale-deteriorating effect of the Academy’s only-Christians-matter ethos.
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- February 14, 2026 | No comments
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This is very intolerant on the part of the United States Air Force Academy.
This is very intolerant.
The cadet that told her that needs to be removed from the Academy, period no discussion, put. Would he have said that to a Muslim, probably not for fear of being called Xenophobic.
As I understand Judaism, they consider Jesus a wise man but not the Messiah. The senior cadet who suggested the Jewish cadet “make an effort to try Christianity,” called into question their suitability for command (at least that’s how it appears to me).
If I was in the senior cadets command chain I’d also be bringing up their inappropriate invitation to Bible study and statement that the Jewish cadet wouldn’t be “converting away from Judaism” but rather that “Christianity is just enlightened Judaism.”
(Narrator: The senior cadet is incorrect. As I’ve read on the interwebz Enlightened Jews call themselves BuJews – at least per the humans I’ve interacted with over the years)
There do exist Jews for Christ, but they self identify. If someone says they are Jewish shouldn’t the default be to honor their religious choices?
Oh yeah, not to Christian Nationalists. For them all knees will bend to their idea of religion. Not this old Pagan – nope to the power of not even.
As always, if I misstated anything about Judaism please let me know. I’m basing my opinions on over thirty years of just listening to humans talk about their faith.