US Army: Atheists Unfit To Serve

[oxymoron]

Did you know that the United States Army is concerned with the spiritual well-being of their soldiers? Did you know that if you choose not to believe in the supernatural that the United States Army can consider you unfit to serve? Allow me to enlighten you about an issue that was brought to my attention by my friend, Sgt. Justin Griffith, Fort Bragg, NC. The US Army distributes a mandatory survey called an SFT, which stands for “Soldier Fitness Tracker”. The purpose of this survey is to measure an individual soldier’s competency in four areas, Emotional, Social, Family and Spiritual. Justin is an atheist, as well as a highly dedicated soldier, but according to the SFT, he is “unfit” to serve specifically because he is a non-believer.

Justin informs me that soldiers are directed to answer, on a scale of 1-5, some awkwardly structured questions, such as “My life will have a lasting meaning”, “I feel connected to a being that is greater than me”, “I’m a very spiritual person”. Etc. Justin was “Red Barred” in the Spiritual Competency area. According to the US Army:

- A red bar means that you face some significant challenges in this area. This means that you should focus most of your attention on this area, though you should also note that placing too much emphasis here could result in other dimensions dropping. The key is to properly balance where you need the most development with the areas you are already doing well in.

Here is a direct “Cut & Paste” from his survey results, under the “Spiritual Fitness” category:

Spiritual fitness is an area of possible difficulty for you. You may lack a sense of meaning and purpose in your life. At times, it is hard for you to make sense of what is happening to you and others around you. You may not feel connected to something larger than yourself. You may question your beliefs, principles, and values. Nevertheless, who you are and what you do matter. There are things to do to provide more meaning and purpose in your life. Improving your spiritual fitness should be an important goal. Change is possible, and the relevant self-development training modules will be helpful. If you need further help, please do not hesitate to seek out help from the people you care about and trust – strong people always do. Be patient in your development as it will take time to improve in this area. Still, persistence is key and you will improve here if you make this area a priority.

More: http://alstefanelli.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/us-army-atheists-unfit-to-serve/

[villager]

1. "You lack a sense of purpose. Your purpose, of course, is to be cannon fodder for your corporate...

...masters."

[MadMaddie]

2. This is the Christian Right forcing their beliefs on our military.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Exactly it wasn't this way even in 2002 when hubby

retired.

It will take a few lawsuits by the way.

[oxymoron]

36. Agreed (nt)

[LuvNewcastle]

3. I wonder if the guy who shot up Ft. Hood

passed his SFT. By all accounts, he was a believer.

[NightWatcher]

4. So, to be a proper killing machine, you need to believe that Jesus loves everyone?

Iff you believe so much that you are a conscientious objector you get in trouble, but if you don't believe enough, you get in trouble???

[Arkana]

14. Sounds a lot like "GOD WILLS IT!" doesn't it?

[backscatter712]

22. What if you're an atheist conscientious objector?

You're kind of screwed if you're in that situation...

[DBoon]

6. When the religious right decides to execute a military coup

They want to make sure the troops are all on board

[Vattel]

7. hysterical

"You may question your beliefs, principles, and values." You may even be capable of critical thinking. To be spiritually fit, you need to abandon evidential reasoning and just belief shit for no reason.

[county worker]

8. From the screne play for "Catch 22"

We don't see much of you
around here lately.



Well, sir, I try to stay out
of the way as much as possible.



- I may make the men uncomfortable.
- Nonsense!



I can't imagine any man not enjoying
the benefits of your presence.



Unless they're atheists.



- Not much chance of that, though.
- I don't know, sir.



- Isn't atheism against the law?
- No.



It isn't?
Then it's un-American, isn't it?



- I'm not sure.
- Well, I am.



If I find any atheists on this base,



you can bet they'll soon
start believing in something.

[HopeHoops]

Oh no - DPDT is coming next.

Don't Pray, Don't Tell.

Give me a fucking break.

[beam me up scottie]

9. Anyone who realizes that religion is used to control the masses would be unfit.

Can't have soldiers thinking for themselves, can we?

Atheists aren't they only threat, they just tend to be more vocal.

[Canuckistanian]

10. Everyone has to believe in SOMETHING

I believe I'll have another beer.

[valerief]

11. Atheists are dangerous. They think. nt

[NoodleyAppendage]

12. Atheist tend to think for themselves and are skeptics at heart.

Both attributes that work poorly with the brainwashing techniques of bootcamp and military order.

J

[FrancisTreptoe]

27. Exactly.

[old mark]

13. Army dog tags used to have a place for "religion" back in the '60's - Mine read

"NONE".


mark

[HereSince1628]

15. Mine read "No Preference"

The one I had left over is the one I still carry with my house, car key, and nitroglycerin tablets. It says the same thing.

[old mark]

23. I no longer have either of mine...But I still carry a P-38 can opener on my

keychain. I found it to be the most useful piece of equipment the Army ever let me operate.

mark

[HereSince1628]

28. A great screw-driver and gapper for spark plugs and the hook

was good for cleaning that fake ham from the breakfast can from between one's teeth!!!!!!

[old mark]

31. You actually ATE the canned "Ham & Eggs"??!!!11??!!

I did that ONCE, and that was it...


but I liked the "Ham & Lima Beans"...people avoided me after I ate those, though.

mark

[spin]

30. You can be a witch and be in the sevice ...

US Army chaplain's handbook: Excerpt on Wicca

***snip***

PRACTICES AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS: The core ethical statement of Wicca, called the "Wiccan Rede" states "an it harm none, do what you will." The Rede fulfills the same function as does the "Golden Rule" for Jews and Christians; all other ethical teachings are considered to be elaborations and applications of the Rede. It is a statement of situational ethics, emphasizing at once the individual's responsibility to avoid harm to others and the widest range of personal autonomy in "victimless" activities. Wicca has been described as having a "high-choice" ethic. Because of the basic Nature orientation of the religion, many Wiccans will regard all living things as Sacred, and show a special concern for ecological issues. For this reason, individual conscience will lead some to take a pacifist position. Some are vegetarians. Others will feel that, as Nature's Way includes self-defense, they should participate in wars that they conscientiously consider to be just. The religion does not dictate either position, but requires each member to thoughtfully and meditatively examine her or his own conscience and to live by it. Social forces generally do not yet allow Witches to publicly declare their religious faith without fear of reprisals such as loss of job, child custody challenges, ridicule, etc. Prejudice against Wiccans is the result of public confusion between Witchcraft and Satanism. Wiccans in the military, especially those who may be posted in countries perceived to be particularly intolerant, will often have their dogtags read "No Religious Preference." Concealment is a traditional Wiccan defense against persecution, so non-denominational dogtags should not contravene a member's request for religious services. Wiccans celebrate eight festivals, called "Sabbats," as a means of attunement to the seasonal rhythms of Nature.

***snip***

OTHER: With respect to attitude toward military service, Wiccans range from career military personnel to conscientious objectors. Wiccans do not proselytize and generally resent those who do. They believe that no one Path to the Sacred is right for all people, and see their own religious pattern as only one among many that are equally worthy. Wiccans respect all religions that foster honor and compassion in their adherents, and expect the same respect. Members are encouraged to learn about all faiths, and are permitted to attend the services of other religions, should they desire to do so.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_usbk.htm

[eppur_se_muova]

35. I always heard the P-38 was one sweet machine ...

Kinda big for a key chain, though.

[old mark]

38. No, not THAT P-38.....THIS P-38.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-38_can_opener


In service 1942-1980, and many thousands - maybe millions still in use by vets everywhere.


mark

[sarcasmo]

24. Mine did as well from 86 89 . Do they still do this with military dog tags, allow you to use None?

[spin]

29. I picked Presbyterian because it was long ...

I knew a Marine who picked Assembly of God which was abbreviated on his dog tag as "Ass of God".

Religion didn't seem to be a such a big deal in the military in the Vietnam era.

[HockeyMom]

16. Write in the Most Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster

Would that be OK with them?

[Odin2005]

17. "For good people to do evil things, that takes religion" -Steve Weinberg.

[Bobbieo]

19. The Army seems bound and determined to kill itself off - which is okay by me.

[jwirr]

18. Lucky atheists. Apparently you do not have to join. Now if we can

just get them to decide that none of us are fit to serve then we can have peace. Seriously, that is the most idiotic statement I have yet to see. And I am a Christian. Sexuality leanings or faith issues say nothing about the nature of the person.

[Bigmack]

20. Gunny said..."You can give yer soul.....

to Jeeezus, and yer heart to Mary Jane Rottencrotch, but yer ASS belongs to the Corps."

They didn't give a shit.

Actually, we were told to remember that chaplains were just officers... not to be trusted.

[Kaleva]

21. SGT Justin Griffith's ariticle from his website, Rock Beyond Belief.

Here:

http://rockbeyondbelief.com/2010/12/22/mandatory-army-survey-says-atheists-are-unfit-to-be-soldiers/

[bikebloke]

25. Something to keep in mind...

... if they decide to draft fodder for their Iran war. Proclaim your godless heathenism.

[struggle4progress]

26. Federal Register Volume 74, Number 137 (Monday, July 20, 2009)

... The Soldier Fitness Tracker System contains up-to-date and
historical data related to family, emotional, spiritual, social, and
physical fitness. It will include names, Social Security Numbers (SSN),
dates of birth, gender, race, ethnic category, rank/grade, service,
service component, occupation, education level, marital status,
dependent quantities, home and unit location data including 5 digit zip
codes, and various other information elements. In addition, the system
will contain data on periodic and deployment health appraisal
information and historical data on personnel and deployments. It
includes medical encounter information including periodic health and
wellness survey information, readiness status information, and
longitudinal demographic and occupational information, assignment and
deployment information, and results of aptitude tests. It also includes
information related to enrollment and completion of programs to improve
employee physical and mental functioning ...

The Soldier Fitness Tracker System supports a systematic
collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of standardized,
population based data for the purposes of self assessing,
characterizing, and developing individualized profiles to guide
individuals through structured self development training modules with
the goal of improving mental and physical well-being, coping skills and
strategies ...

http://origin.www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2009-07-20/html/E9-17149.htm
http://privacy.defense.gov/notices/army/A0600-63.shtml


Comprehensive Soldier Fitness
... 2009 Army Posture Statement: Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program
Army Behavioral Health
Army Physical Fitness Research Institute
Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Branding Toolkit (please right-click and save as)
Soldier Fitness Tracker (AKO Login required)
Victory University MRT course
MilBook ...
http://www.army.mil/csf/resources.html

Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program
What is it?
The Army Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) program was established to increase the resilience of Soldiers and Families by developing their strengths in all important domains: emotional, social, an spiritual, and Family, in addition to physical ... Enhanced resilience, achieved by a combination of specific training and improved fitness in the five domains of health, can decrease post-traumatic stress, decrease the incidence of undesirable and destructive behaviors, and lead to a greater likelihood for post-adversity growth and success ... http://www.army.mil/aps/09/information_papers/comprehensive_soldier_fitness_program.html

Five Dimensions of Comprehensive Soldier Fitness
http://www.benningmwr.com/csf.php

[toddaa]

32. Meaning and purpose dictated by others is shit

Only a those who begin from nihilism and create meaning and purpose for themselves are truly connected with others. The herd mentality of top down religion leads to mental slavery and isolation.

I look forward to your misinterpretations of this as intolerance towards religious people. Delusional indignation is hilarious.

[Capitalocracy]

33. We need some kind of law to protect these atheists

And at the same time respect the Army commanders' concerns. Perhaps some sort of law saying that they can kick you out for being an atheist, but that they can't ask if you're an atheist and you don't have to tell them... hmm...

[TriMera]

34. Ok, but there will be 20 scientific studies

and a survey of the troops first.;-)

[shireen]

37. tell that to Pat Tillman's family

An atheist (or agnostic?) who died for his country. And to his brother who was serving with him.

This spiritual well-being crap is outrageous.

[TexasObserver]

39. recommend

[Festivito]

40. There seem to be some Army brass unfit to serve an American army.

The question should be whether one believes that soldiers can believe whatever they wish to believe and still be soldiers for America.

If so, good, if not, they need help in this area. And, I'd be certain that the writers of those first questions are the ones who are the failures.