Active duty Marine thanks MRFF for being here; reports that Marine recruits who declined Bibles from civilian pastor at mandatory event were “sent out back … and … intensively trained for ‘embarrassing God and the Senior Drill Instructor’”
From: (Active Duty Enlisted U.S. Marine/MRFF Client’s E-mail Address Withheld)
Subject: Request for MRFF’s Intervention by Active Duty U.S. Marine
Date: December 31, 2023 at 1:14:56 PM MST
To: [email protected]
Dear Mikey and Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF),
I am an active duty Marine and I went through Marine Corps Recruiting Depot (MCRD), San Diego, California earlier this year. During this time, we had a mandatory event where we had to go to a class that was led by a civilian pastor, it was not a military chaplain, who preached and handed out bibles. Some of the Marine Recruits denied these bibles and to pray with the pastor, as it went against their religious beliefs. Those recruits were sent out back with several drill instructors and were intensively trained for “embarrassing God and the Senior Drill Instructor”. I personally am (specific Christian denomination withheld) Christian and the bibles they were handing out were not what I followed particularly, but many of us, myself included, took the bibles in fear that if we did not, we would have to be intensively trained out back.
Later that day, we were told that for the remainder of our time in training, we would have to pray to the “Sun Gods”, which is a certain physical movement where you swing your arms and look up to the sky. Some of the Drill Instructors made fun of Buddhists, Muslims, and Mormons, exclaiming that they were going to church because they were trying to “get out of training”. Many of them would return on Sundays and be intensively trained simply because their religious service took slightly longer than the Christian service.
Inside of our major training event, referred to as the Crucible, many recruits were yelled at as they would crawl along the ground, including myself. They would yell and say things like “where is your god now? where is Buddha when you need him?”. They even made fun of the three Native Americans who followed the Navajo religious beliefs, intensively training them so they can call the “Rain Gods” to make it rain.
Many recruits tried to stand and fight for their religion but were seen as unruly and were punished as such. This made many recruits afraid to attend their religious services, as they were infringed from the First amendment. They were afraid to open their mouths about what they believed in.
As a Marine, we do not leave each other behind, we are battle buddies, as we call ourselves, and to see our brothers’ and sisters’ rights become infringed, it is sickening. I personally thank you and MRFF for helping many military members in this plight. Thank you for the time to listen to this and for fighting for us.
(Active Duty Enlisted U.S. Marine/MRFF Client’s name, rank, MOS, assigned USMC unit and USMC installation all withheld)
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Everyone should know that these, >ImaginaryAny EnlisteeThey< don't conform to that imaginary idology.
This Marine is exactly right, “it’s sickening!”
The “fix” is at the Commandant of the Marine Corps level. Yeah, I know, that sounds a bit far fetched given the figurative beyond six degrees of separation of the Commandant relative to the Drill Field; however, anywhere you go where the “service” is less than what it should be, it’s coming from management! Leaders set the tone, period, particularly in the military.
All it takes is one off-handed comment by a leader to set the tone throughout the organization. It could be lack of action on the part of leadership – it becomes “green light” complicity.
Republican dickhead Tommy Tuberville’s actions in holding up senior military promotions is also complicit. An “acting” military leader is not in a policy setting position and everyone knows the position is temporary.
I get that “general Marine Corps harassment,” in boot camp, is part and parcel to the right of passage in becoming a Marine, or soldier, sailer, or airman. But to single out particular religious beliefs for punishment, is divisive and disruptive to the good order and discipline of the Marine Corps (or any military branch).
Although, the crucible part of the story where all religious beliefs were targeted, no foul in my opinion, the goal being to target an inner reserve, to show you that there’s more in you, you just have to reach for it – never quit the goal.
The “embarrassing God” part of the story for rejecting the Bible and Christian prayer? Clear violation imo. Get rid of these Christian nut- jobs!
Battlefield blood is still red regardless of religious belief.
These folks proselytizing for Christ need to be weeded out, period. You can’t build a fighting force, in a diverse membership, by singling out one religion over others. It weakens combat effectivity.
Particularly in light of the rise of “Nones” in our military membership.
Time for a change. It needs to start at the highest levels to be truly fixed!