MRFF Action Leads to Quick Removal of Statement Declaring the U.S. Military as “Jesus’ Army”

Published On: December 16, 2022|Categories: Achievements|0 Comments|

December 16, 2022

The Pine Bluff Arsenal (Arkansas) was established in 1941 in support of the nation’s WWII efforts. The mission of the Arsenal included the manufacturing of incendiary grenades and bombs, and the manufacturing, loading, and storage of war gases; and production and storage of pyrotechnic, riot control and white phosphorous munitions. Today’s core mission includes the production of non-lethal ammunition and chemical-biological defense equipment.

The Public Affairs Office at Pine Bluff Arsenal interviewed a number of military veterans who are serving as U.S. Army civilian employees at the Arsenal.  These interviews were published in an article on December 8, 2022 entitled Spotlight on Pine Bluff Arsenal Veterans and posted to the Army’s public web portal.  While interviews with veterans and employees at any installation can be valuable for unit cohesion and organizational team building, one of the interviewed employees took this opportunity to brand the U.S. Army as ‘Jesus’ Army’.  

While federal civil service employees are required to take an oath “…that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…” (5 U.S. Code § 3331), Veteran and DoD civilian employee Wes Sparks used the interview opportunity to proselytize his religious beliefs while displaying utter contempt for this oath:

Question 3: Why do you like being an Army Civilian? Why or why not?

Yes, I do like being an Army Civilian. In life you must decide what is important to you. So, I chose my Family. Other than my Master (Jesus Christ) they came first to me.

Question 4: Do you consider yourself a Soldier for Life? Why or why not? 

Yes, but probably not in the sense asked by this question. As humans we are God’s greatest creation. We were created to live forever. Even after we experience death to this world. It makes me sad that some will be separated from their Creator forever. This is Hell. So, I do fight in the army that belongs to Jesus. To make sure that everyone is aware of this. I will be a soldier in this army until my last breath is given to me.

It is important to note here that an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution, by any logical extension, includes defense of constitutional edicts such as Article VI which states “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States”.

In a complaint filed with a Senior Army Public Affairs official on behalf of numerous clients, MRFF pointed out that had this statement been made by an employee replacing references from God to Allah and from Jesus to Mohammed, the response would have most likely never been allowed by the Pine Bluff Arsenal Public Affairs division (…due to expected and warranted blowback) while probably also resulting in the civil servant being referred to several watch lists and possible disciplinary counseling. MRFF demanded that the comment regarding Christian supremacy over the U.S. Army be removed or at least presented with an appropriate disclaimer:

The Department of Defense and Pine Bluff Arsenal does not endorse, support, sanction, encourage, verify or agree with the comments, opinions, or statements posted. Any opinions, are the views and responsibility of those making the comments and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Defense, the United States Government.

After a phone call from MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein to a senior Army Public Affairs official and a follow-up email from a MRFF key staff member, the outrageous interview was quickly removed on December 16, 2022!

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