MRFF Blasts USAFA for Again Showing Utter Disregard for Non-Christians — Key Training Scheduled During Ramadan; No Accommodation for Muslim Cadets
“The conflict with Ramadan is substantial. As fasting cadets, we would be required to engage in hours of intense physical activity without food or water throughout the day, placing us at increased risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and decreased cognitive function. Furthermore, the limited rest periods during CULEX make it nearly impossible to maintain proper nutrition and hydration in the small windows between sunset and sunrise, further compounding the health risks. This creates an unfair and hazardous situation for Muslim cadets who wish to observe their religious duties while also fulfilling their training responsibilities.
“What makes this situation more concerning is that our chaplain has advised the Muslim cadet community at USAFA to forgo fasting during Ramadan, as upper leadership has reportedly refused to grant any excusal from the physical portions of CULEX. This effectively forces Muslim cadets into a position where they must choose between their deeply held religious beliefs and meeting military training requirements. …”
— Muslim U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet
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- March 12, 2025 | 1 comment
From an armchair quarterback perspective, given the AFA’s propensity and history regarding Christianity as their favored religion, I can understand the tendency to conclude that the denial of a Muslim cadet’s request for religious accommodation during the CULEX as malicious treatment of a non-Christian.
However, “Muhammad urged his troops to break the fast when entering into battle in order to preserve their strength.”
The purpose of Ramadan is to deepen their spiritual connection with God, not to compromise their health, and, in this case, the demonstration of the “culmination” of their training at the academy, their “leader” abilities, soon to be commissioned and entrusted with the lives of America’s sons and daughters!
I assume that every service academy candidate has at least an idea of what they’re getting into before competing for an academy appointment. They obviously want to be a part of this group of young men and women that get the privilege to challenge themselves and call themselves graduates of an elite and highly selective group.
As I understand the Culiminating Exercise, it’s a “right of passage” for senior cadets, a “crucible,” if you will, for assessment of their ability to lead in America’s service branches. These young men and women are going to be leading America’s sons and daughters in war time!
The CULEX appears to be part and parcel to the AFA training curriculum.
Ramadan CAN be made up at another time, their journey toward spiritual enlightenment and reflection the goal.
It sounds to me like religious accommodation for this particular phase of the Academy’s training curriculum is not doable.
Could they have explained it better – yes, they could have; however, as a former Marine, subtlety not being a strong suit, my indoctrinated inclination thought bubble would go something like, “Did you think you were joining the fucking Boy Scouts? Fast if you want to but you’re participating in the CULEX! Now get your ass out of here!”
I get the AFA history regarding Christian Nationalism (other branches as well), but I just don’t see this one as a religious accommodation issue.
Religious accommodation when doable. In this case it doesn’t appear to be doable.
My advice to the cadet would be, “Don’t fall on your Jambiya over this one.”
The requirements for entry into the service ancademies are, as Joe Biden would say, “a big fucking deal!”
And as Petey Hogsbreath said, “we want the best and the brightest,” he obviously doesn’t shave with a mirror!
These are elite institutions, more than just schools. They’re institutions that are going to produce leaders entrusted with the lives of America’s sons and daughters. We want transformational leaders coming out of the service schools. Anyone can lead transactionally – just follow the script, look in the book for the answers. But what do you do when the answers aren’t in the book? “An 80% solution now is better than a 100% solution too late,” post decisional execution relying on leaders that can decisively put together a course of action that maximizes mission success.
Religion is not at the table, not in the tool kit in terms of mission-driven outcomes in the heat of battle.
Although an atheist, I respect the benefit of spiritual reflection for those with synaptic subroutines religious in nature, but, military leadership training absolutely cannot be focused on “next-life” outcomes of the human tools used in mission execution.
When we fight future wars with AI driven robots, religion won’t be part of the algorithm.
Religious accommodation when practical, otherwise, no accommodation imo.
And particularly not the Christian National flavor of religion permeating our secular military, an agenda that will destroy combat effectiveness.
I know that Ramadan can be postponed if you are pregnant. I don’t know about other times. I agree with the Marine that you have to decide which is more important your faith or your country- what if there was a battle during Ramadan- especially if it was in the Summer- Sunup to Sundown is 5AM to 8PM. However the USAF academy has a history of being anti non- Christian religions. For example they will have special classes or assemblies on Yom Kippur when most Jews fast. The fact that they won’t move that ONE day is proof of being biased against non Christians.
I see a lot of comments supporting the suck it up Muslims approach to the exercise.
Ok, fair, fair. As stated the Military is beyond religion.
So when can I expect exercises to be held during Easter? I mean, fair is fair, correct?
Good point Grey One. Course, you already know, I’d do the same for the Christians!
Pick your flavor. All the same to me, especially here at home with the Christo-fascists. Taliban comes in a lot of religious flavors these days.
Synergy, you’d do the same for Christians but as it’s been proven those with power in the military would not do the same. Your integrity is not in question here.
For all you Christian apologists out there please explain why an exercise has managed to miss the Christian spring holiday while almost always landing on the Muslim spring holiday. If this were a one off I’d give leadership the benefit of the doubt. As this is not my first or second rodeo with the issue I surmise there exists a behavior which is contrary to the code said leaders swore to uphold.
I’m not holding my breath while waiting. Bigots seldom reply with anything besides insults. Hmm, maybe creative insults? A Grey One can be curious.
Reminds me of a cartoon from many years ago. The cops are in an apartment doing an investigation, a forearm sticking out of the top of a meat grinder, the hand still on the handle. One of the cops, with pen and note pad in hand remarks, “ the most determined case of suicide I’ve ever seen!”
My thought bubble has changed though. The forearm has a MAGA tattoo on it!
When they’re eating themselves, get out of their way!
The Christo-fascists in the military don’t know what leadership is and that will be their downfall imo.
Christian military leadership (a dichotomy) is to leadership, what military music is to music.