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New Air Force Oath of Office: So Help Me, Me
Charting Course ^ | 9/18/14 | Steve Berman

Posted on 09/18/2014 4:55:48 AM PDT by lifeofgrace

theodore-roosevelt-oath-of-office

 

So help me, me.

In a victory for the tombstone-dancing Military Religious Freedom Foundation (whose name implies the opposite of what they actually believe), the Air Force reversed its 2013 legal opinion requiring recruits to recite the entire Oath of Office when enlisting or receiving a commission in the U.S. Air Force.  By entire oath I mean including the part where “So help me God” is said at the end.

The issue was originally raised back in 2013 when the MRFF found that the Air Force was enforcing the Federal laws requiring the entire oath as written.  I never realized there was such a brouhaha over something as simple as uttering the words “so help me God.”  Yet some people are so opposed to saying those words, as if it would violate some Atheist religious rite, and damn them to—wherever Atheists are damned to—that they would rather spend a year fighting for the right to not say them.

The MRFF rabidly opposes anything remotely Christian in our military.  They’ve called military Bibles a national security threat.  It’s no surprise that the Air Force reversed itself on this issue, as they’ve been on a witch-hunt for Christians for quite a few years.  Having a Bible on your desk is now a controversial act.  Writing Galatians 2:20 on a white board at the Air Force Academy is now a controversial act, because it makes MRFF director Mikey Weinstein feel “uncomfortable.”

Now you can join the Air Force without having to utter the word “God”, serve without seeing a Bible, hearing a scripture, or seeing a Christian religious symbol.  All these things must be expunged when someone who feels uncomfortable seeing, hearing, or saying anything religious is present.  And you never know when that person will be around, so if you serve, you better be careful.

This is a sad situation, and with God’s help, one day we will be able to restore the bedrock of our republic into our military, instead of this “post-Xtian” America the current administration has promoted.

(cross posted from RedState)


TOPICS: Government; Military/Veterans; Religion; Society
KEYWORDS: airforceoath; mikeyweinstein; mrff; oathofoffice; usairforce

1 posted on 09/18/2014 4:55:48 AM PDT by lifeofgrace
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To: lifeofgrace

The Hippocratic Oath is also gone in the Obola’s America.

The only oath allowed in the military
is to the undocumented Moslem Tyrant,
not the Constitution,
with a promise to destroy America for the Tyrant,
when the Tyrant or Saudi Arabia or Iran commands.


2 posted on 09/18/2014 4:58:07 AM PDT by Diogenesis (The EXEMPT Congress is complicit in the absence of impeachment)
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To: lifeofgrace

I am not clear on this.

In a court of law, can a witness omit taking the oath before giving testimony?

Can a witness refuse to place his/her hand on the Bible?


3 posted on 09/18/2014 4:58:46 AM PDT by SMARTY ("When you blame others, you give up your power to change." Robert Anthony)
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To: lifeofgrace

Before you jump all over this...prior to 2013....for decades...the Air Force offered two options (one with the God phrase, and one without). Something or someone decided to flip the rule in 2013.

Strangely enough, because you’d sit and think about things like this...the Marines, Army, and Navy DID NOT flip the rule, and continue to run the decades-long option of oath options.

While AF press guys may indicate that a Pentagon review reversed this...what you may want to consider is that the Pentagon began to ask...why the heck did you guys change this back in 2013, and not consult us then? Who made this decision and why? And I think the AF just stood there grinning and avoiding to answer that it was one of those Friday-night decisions that someone makes and shocks everyone on Monday with a deed already done.


4 posted on 09/18/2014 5:16:24 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: lifeofgrace

In the 1980s, I flew B-52s in the USAF, and while on staff duty, was assigned to the Services Squadron.

Due to an the commander of the Squadron getting into an accident and medevaced down to Texas, I was acting Squadron Commander for about 3 weeks. During that time, we had a re-enlistment.

Roughly 40 troops. Three Atheists and a Christian Scientist “affirmed”, rather than swore, and ended the oath with “On My Honor”. Perfectly acceptable at the time, even documented.

I also had a Muslim, two Buddhists, and three Asatru, who ended with “I swear to Allah”, “so help me Buddha”, and “My oath to Odin”.

All were perfectly acceptable and documented as such.

I also knew of Wiccans and other religions who had no problems swearing oaths to THEIR deities, by name. Not sure what the problem is now, but the USAF policy that just came down WAS the policy in the 1980s. . . .


5 posted on 09/18/2014 5:21:25 AM PDT by Salgak (Peace through Superior Firepower. . . .)
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To: lifeofgrace; Diogenesis

Article 2, section 1 of the US Constitution regarding the President:

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation: — “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”


6 posted on 09/18/2014 5:34:46 AM PDT by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: zot

Not your or my father’s Air Force


7 posted on 09/18/2014 5:44:30 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: lifeofgrace

The Air Force has led the way on anti Christian political correctness. Meanwhile the vacuum has been filled with scandals, cheating and immorality. What a shock. Nothing they don’t deserve for their actions.


8 posted on 09/18/2014 6:24:14 AM PDT by armydawg505
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To: pepsionice
I did note in the post that the decision being reversed was made in 2013...the linked article (HuffPo) does have the background you cite.

My point is two-fold: (1) I didn't realize people felt so strongly about swearing to God when they've already decided to serve their country (in God we trust is on our currency!), (2) the Air Force in particular has become more and more hostile to Christians lately.

The decision itself is no surprise to anyone. I have no idea why they changed it in 2013.
9 posted on 09/18/2014 6:24:30 AM PDT by lifeofgrace (Follow me on Twitter @lifeofgrace224)
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To: lifeofgrace

Since the early 90’s...there’s been this evolution coming out of the Air Force Academy. I witnessed some of these young Lt’s, and stood there amazed at the morale authority that they wanted to push. Other graduates from the same year period...were already countering these guys, and trying keep them within a level-way of thinking. A decade later, as I was retiring...the Lt’s had progressed up the leadership chain and were continuing to create a morale movement.

This oath change in 2013, I think goes back to these 1990s Academy graduates. What has been said in open press is that Congress passed some type of law dealing with DoD in the 2012/2013 era, and some high leaders in the Air Force felt it was proper, ethical and legal to go with only one oath...bypassing Pentagon legal review, and just doing it. They were simply laying this upon some Congressional law interpretation. Hence, the reason why the Army, Navy and Marines were standing there and asking stupid questions when this came back up in August to be a major issue. They had no part of the 2013 decision, nor could understand any mandate from Congress to change the way things were done.


10 posted on 09/18/2014 6:33:24 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: GreyFriar
Not your or my father’s Air Force

True.

11 posted on 09/18/2014 9:20:33 AM PDT by zot
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To: armydawg505
The Air Force has led the way on anti Christian political correctness.

True that. That's why Mikey goes after them. They are indeed the "weak sister" and get targeted first to set precedent.

12 posted on 09/18/2014 2:11:59 PM PDT by atomic_dog
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