Posted on 01/16/2011 8:03:05 AM PST by DJ Taylor
Sgt. Justin Griffith was furious last month when a mandatory Army test asked him questions about his spirituality and found him lacking.
As an atheist, the Fort Bragg soldier didn't see any way he could honestly answer the questions and receive a passing score. Immediately after finishing the test, Griffith wrote a blog about his frustrations.
Griffith's complaints soon caught the attention of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which is demanding that the Army stop making soldiers take the test because they say it's unconstitutional.
(Excerpt) Read more at fayobserver.com ...
This is not a PT test. This is an overall emotional health assessment to determine the resilience of the individual to repeated deployments.
I read the article, and it says that the test was devised to address the growing segment of veterans who are suicidal and depressed. I am not at all knowledgeable about the military but it seems to me, that a good soldier has to have a concept of something greater than himself to place his life on the line for an ideal. Usually that greater something is God or at the very least a spiritual being. To be connected to one’s unit, and to the broader armed service, usually means that there is a similar connection to one’s country, family and God. That used to be the pattern. I would think an atheistic soldier would be a better mercenary. However, the test seems unnecessarily prying as is usual with the government.
...Griffith volunteered...he needs to shut up.
“The Army should get rid of the spiritual questions and ask soldiers about issues based in reality, he said.”
So in reality there is no spirituality?
Reject.All.Whiners.
Really. What’s next? Complaints about the food in the mess hall? Recruits upset over how the drill instructor yells at them?
My pure guess is that they are trying to find out if the Army is infested with people that have NO boundries.
Thus making them susceptible to purely emotional or selfish decisions.
No that hard to understand given Bradly Manning and numerous other miscreants.
Plus the leftie reports of massacres, rapes, torture and sundry other crimes by Military.
They will just change the name and do another test to get the same results.
I guess it’s time to implement a DADT on religious beliefs.
Most soldiers will just give them what they want. The same is happening in school and in business.
The end result of these tests is to advance the worst liars and those least in touch with reality. The honest, realistic person is sidetracked.
It has long been a part of any comprehensive medical assessment to evaluate spirituality of a patient. Ask any nurse about that section of their nursing diagnosis and care plan, although some might not have done it since school.
The reasoning behind it is a more stable and deep social support system (family, friends, and church) correlates to better recovery.
What a load of liberal P#@&foot crap. Not just for Atheists but for everyone. Can we just focus on the soldiers killing and breaking things instead.
This seems pretty stupid. If the army decides atheists are unfit for duty, and gays are, then if we ever have another draft, it would be an easy out for those that don’t want to go. Even those that are currently in, could conceivably get out of the military if they don’t want to get deployed.
There doesn't appear to be any negative career effects to scoring low on the survey, but Griffith said the experience left him angry and surprised.
Then what the heck is Sgt. Griffith problem? The questions don't seem 'religious' to me. And if there's no 'negative career effects', it's not like he won't get that 'Rocker' and promotion to E-6 if he stays in.
Hey! I just had an idea. Maybe the Army(1) should have 'Atheist Chaplains' so soldiers like Griffith could go talk to when they're troubled, 'angry and surprised'!
:-)
(1) And all US Military branches
Complaining about an evaluation that has no impact on your career. This survey is used to adjust individual training to help the solider cope with the current tempo...
I don't know about you but any training to help you cope and reduce the chance of soldier offing themselves is a good idea...To complain about it pretty damn selfish and wimpy.
During my career I had to work and supervise all kind of people from all different backgrounds. Most of them were great troops and I learned from them all. I had little problems from them regarding their backgrounds.(Sex, Race, Religion, Medical...etc.
The best compliment I received from the Troops (All Branches) that I was considered fair, honest and treated everybody the same way, including the disabled.
The only serious problem I had to deal with was an Atheist, the POS wouldn't accept or work with other Airman with different religions, the guy was a selfish intolerant pain in the ass. Kind of reminds me of this clown.
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