MRFF Demand on Behalf of Client Leads to Immediate Investigation of Christian Only Prayer at Mandatory Leadership Training Event

July 23, 2025

During a mandatory graduation ceremony held at Fort Lee, VA for a Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) on July 18, 2025, a ‘Christian Only’ invocation/prayer was offered with no secular or alternative religious option.  The tone and intent of this religious preference in officer leadership was detailed in our clients email requesting MRFF’s assistance:

From: MRFF Client’s E-Mail Address Withheld
Subject: Concern Regarding Sectarian Prayer at Mlitary Graduation Ceremony
Date: July 18, 2025 at 7:37:30 PM MDT
To: “[email protected]“

Dear MRFF Team,

I attended a U.S. military Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) graduation on Friday, July 18, 10:00 AM, at Fort Lee, VA, as a guest. During the invocation, an ethicist or chaplain led a Christian prayer that included the phrase “in Jesus’ name we pray” and referenced a bible verse. No secular or alternative religious option was provided during this government-funded event.

While family attendance was optional, I confirmed directly with one of the graduating soldiers that attendance for service members was mandatory. She explained that unless a soldier had a emergency, missing the graduation could be considered AWOL (Absent Without Leave) and subject to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

That means soldiers were compelled under threat of legal penalty to attend a ceremony that opened with a sectarian religious message. This creates a serious Establishment Clause concern, as it effectively required military personnel to sit through a government-sponsored Christian prayer with no opt-out, no neutrality, and no alternatives offered.

Details:

Event: BOLC Graduation

Date & Time: Friday, July 18, 10:00 AM

Location: Fort Lee, VA

Speaker: Ethicist or Chaplain (name unknown)

Content: Prayer ended “in Jesus’ name we pray”; no secular or inclusive option presented

Attendance for soldiers was enforced under threat of UCMJ consequences

I am submitting this complaint because the event lacked religious neutrality and placed soldiers of all backgrounds in a coercive situation that violates the spirit and arguably the letter of the Establishment Clause.

Thank you for your work on these issues. Please let me know if further information is needed.

Sincerely,

(Name and all other ID info of MRFF Client Withheld)

MRFF President/Founder Mikey Weinstein sent the following email seeking an immediate investigation and appropriate action to the command overseeing the BOLC at Ft. Lee:

From: “Michael L Weinstein” <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, July 21, 2025 at 8:47:47 AM
To: “Mohan, Christopher Owen LTG USARMY USAMC (USA)”
Cc: “Erickson, Steven A (Steve) COL USARMY ASU (USA)”
Subject: Concern Regarding Sectarian Prayer at Military Graduation Ceremony

….General Mohan, my name is Mikey Weinstein and I am the Founder and President of a large civil rights organization called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (mrff.org)…

……We have received the following official complaint (see below) regarding the graduation ceremony last Friday for the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Lee, Virginia…

….. If validated, the presentation of a blatantly nonsecular invocation that was clearly sectarian for the Christian faith alone when military members, especially graduates, had no choice but to be there in a mandatory environment is blatantly violative of the United States Constitution’s First Amendment separation of church and state, it’s construing Federal case law, as well as a number of directives, instructions and regulations at DOD and the Army… a soldier does not need to be a Christian to exhibit the requisite honor, integrity, intrepidity, courage, character, and intelligence to serve the nation and support the Constitution, General…

 ….The Army’s own Core Values, all 7 of them, are not served, and, indeed, are viciously violated when an invocation, such as described by our client below, is given in a mandatory environment, which is also necessarily pluralistic, where not everybody subscribes to the Christian faith to the exclusion of all other faith and non-faith traditions…

….. I realize, sir, that you may not yet even be aware that this happened just last Friday morning at Fort Lee, Virginia… Thus, MRFF is requesting that you expeditiously investigate and get back to us as to what you found… my phone number is 505-250-7727…

….. We will anxiously standby for your most timely and substantive response please, General…

 …….Gratefully, Michael L “Mikey” Weinstein, Founder, and President, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, 505-250-7727

Within 48-hours, MRFF received two quick responses confirming the initiation of a ‘Commander’s Inquiry’ along with assurances to maintain required religious pluralism free of religious coercion at the Army Sustainment University at Ft. Lee:

Mr. Weinstein,

Thank you for reaching out. The graduation ceremony you referenced in your email is a Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) event. Your concern has been forwarded to CASCOM, and a member of that command will reach out to you (if they already haven’t). 

Respectfully,

LTG Mohan

… and …

From: “Horn, Daniel Lee COL USARMY ASU (USA)”
Date: July 23, 2025 at 12:57:47 PM MDT
To: [email protected]
Cc: “Mohan, Christopher Owen LTG USARMY USAMC (USA)”, “Donahue, Michelle K MG USARMY SCOE (USA)”, “Erickson, Steven A (Steve) COL USARMY ASU (USA)”
Subject: Re: Concern Regarding Sectarian Prayer at Military Graduation Ceremony

Sir,

Thank you for bringing your client’s concerns to the Army’s attention. I have directed a commander’s inquiry into the complaint.

I offer you my assurance that I will take all necessary steps to ensure that Army Sustainment University remains an environment that is respectful of religious pluralism and free of religious coercion.

Thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of service members

v/r

dh

Daniel L. Horn
COL, LG
Dean of Logistics Leader College
Assistant Commandant,
Army Sustainment University

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