Request For Religious Accommodation Guidance – CULEX During Ramadan
From: (Muslim U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet/MRFF Client’s name withheld)
Subject: Request For Religious Accommodation Guidance – CULEX During Ramadan
Date: February 24, 2025 at 11:19:13 AM MST
To: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
Dear Military Religious Freedom Foundation,
First I would like to inform you that your personal email was given to me by Cadet (USAFA cadet’s name withheld). Also, I would like to request anonymity to avoid reprisal.
I hope this email finds you well. I am a Cadet at the United States Air Force Academy. I am reaching out for guidance regarding a religious accommodation concern and would like to remain anonymous in any potential advocacy or correspondence regarding this matter.
Muslims are religiously obligated to fast from dawn to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan, refraining from both food and drink during daylight hours. This spiritual practice is a fundamental pillar of Islam, requiring discipline, self-restraint, and devotion. However, I have been informed that I will not be excused from the physically demanding components of the Spring CULEX, a four-day culminating training event, despite the clear conflict it poses with my ability to safely observe my religious obligations.
According to OPORD 25-005, the Spring CULEX is a comprehensive field training exercise designed to assess cadets’ ability to perform in austere environments under high-stress conditions. The event incorporates a combination of Ready Airman Training, tactical movements, prolonged physical exertion, sleep deprivation, and strenuous outdoor activities. These physically and mentally demanding components, often performed in unpredictable weather conditions, require cadets to maintain peak endurance, hydration, and nutrition to avoid injury and sustain operational effectiveness.
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. Given that the military has established policies on religious accommodations, this denial raises concerns about whether Muslim cadets are being treated equitably regarding their faith-based needs.
I would like to better understand my rights regarding religious accommodations and explore possible courses of action. If MRFF can provide any guidance or advocacy in addressing this issue, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you for your time and for the work you do to uphold religious freedom in the military. I look forward to your response.
V/r,
(Muslim U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet‘s name withheld)
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Islam makes allowances for instances where one is not able to observe Ramadan obligations during Ramadan. One of those is that the Muslim observe the fast for a total of 30 days before the next Ramadan. Consider researching that.
How absolutely Nationalist Christian of you Lorrie Keating. I’m sure Christ will have a few things to say to you on the other side after crossing the rainbow bridge.
The point isn’t that fasting can be done on other days. I am confident if need be all battle ready Muslim personnel can make necessary accommodations to fulfill the requirements of their faith.
What isn’t fair and the point of the complaint is a training exercise which manages to skip every Christian holiday but not the Muslim (in this specific example – y’all know there have been other examples, many many more).
Weird how you don’t see the issue from that perspective Lorrie. It’s almost as if you’ve not a lick of compassion or empathy in your brain.
Your reply with either confirm or deny my observation, that is if you reply.
I already commented on this one but I’m just not seeing it.
In this case we’re talking about a physically demanding exercise that you need to eat and stay hydrated for during the exercise, otherwise you’re going to kill yourself?
Maybe I’m not understanding the accommodation being requested. Not sure the cadet spelled that out in his note to Mr. Weinstein – maybe I missed it, but not sure what he wanted.
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But he certainly can’t “sit this one out,” it’s a culminating exercise, a crucible, end of four years at the academy “show us what you’ve learned and who you are.”
Religious accommodation when it can be accommodated, otherwise ……. you’re soon to be a leader of America’s sons and daughters!
The old Marine Corps slogan, “We didn’t promise you a rose garden” comes to mind.
Another, “Long hours, hard work, satisfaction guaranteed!”
What am I missing?