RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION AT THE US NAVAL ACADEMY

From: (Retired U.S. Navy chaplain’s email address withheld)
Date: October 24, 2025 at 9:22:53 AM MDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION AT THE US NAVAL ACADEMY

Mikey,

I am writing to you on behalf of myself, as well as 75 Jewish midshipmen, Naval Academy graduates currently serving on Active Duty, retired Naval officers and civilian employees of the Naval Academy.

I want to begin by thanking you for your years of support for my rights and the rights of all of us who serve this country and the Constitution in uniform. Your efforts have been instrumental in guaranteeing that all can serve with pride and dignity and contribute to the success of this nation. Over the years, you have been a sounding board and a zealous advocate on my behalf and I am deeply grateful!

During the past 9 months, there has been a concerted and unmistakable effort to extinguish organized Jewish life at the United States Naval Academy. Notable public examples have included the cancellation of the Days of Remembrance observance, the removal of the Jewish women’s exhibits from Stein Hall in the Jewish Chapel, the removal of books on the Holocaust from the Nimitz library and the discrimination against Jewish faculty and staff at the Academy. As if this weren’t enough, the Superintendent has now unilaterally made the decision to deny the Jewish Midshipmen permission to travel to USAFA this weekend to participate in the Jewish Warrior Weekend retreat. This retreat has been ongoing over the past 26 years, and includes Jewish cadets and Midshipmen from all Military academies as well as ROTC programs nationally. Attendance is generally over 100 young people dedicated to serving their nation and their faith, and includes religious programs, Shabbat observance, Lay Leader training and classes in Jewish practice. On Wednesday evening, without warning the Superintendent requested information about the costs that have already been incurred by the Midshipmen and the Friends of the Jewish Chapel. Thursday, after it was too late to cancel the plane tickets and other reservations without penalty, he announced that permission to participate has been revoked. I should note that USMA and USAFA as well as the other Military academies and ROTC programs around the country are still attending the retreat; this is NOT a DoD driven decision!

I should note that last weekend, the Officer Christian Fellowship, the Catholic Midshipmen Club and the Baptist College Ministries were all given permission to attend their religious retreats. These different groups attended 6 religious retreats including 3 for the Catholic Midshipmen Club and 2 for the BCM.  The Gospel Midshipmen Club was given permission to travel this weekend; it was only after complaints by Jewish staff at USNA last night that permission was denied to the Gospel Club only minutes ago! Clearly, now the Superintendent plans to increase the hostility towards the Jews on the Yard by making THEM the scapegoat for his capricious decisions. 

In addition to this outrageous action, the speaker for Laboon lecture scheduled for Wednesday, October 22 was cancelled abruptly. The scheduled speaker was Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff.  A decorated Marine in the Vietnam war who later went on to become a Navy Chaplain, he was present at the Marine Corps Barracks bombing in Beirut in 1982. Arnie was scheduled to speak about the bombing the day prior to the anniversary. Instead, he was called only days before and told that “all outside speakers were being canceled.” Yet only a week ago MSgt John Masson spoke at a MANDATORY Battalion meeting for 4th Battalion. During his talk, he told the Midshipmen that “we are an army for Jesus against Satan in our world.” When the Battalion Officer was advised that some might take offense at this mandatory evangelization, his response was “they can come see me if they have a problem with it.”

I could go on, but you get the point – the goal is to make sure Jews know they aren’t welcome at the Naval Academy, at least not if they wish to practice their faith and identify as Jews! I have attached my letter to the Superintendent regarding the decision for your SA. Thank you for your assistance and support!

Very Respectfully,

(Name and rank of retired U.S. Navy chaplain withheld)