Air Force to allow the omission of "So help me God" from enlistment oath

[Dolorian]

The Air Force has instructed force support offices across the service to allow both enlisted members and officers to omit the words "So help me God" from enlistment and officer appointment oaths if an Airman chooses.

In response to concerns raised by Airmen, the Department of the Air Force requested an opinion from the Department of Defense General Counsel addressing the legal parameters of the oath. The resulting opinion concluded that an individual may strike or omit the words "So help me God" from an enlistment or appointment oath if preferred.

"We take any instance in which Airmen report concerns regarding religious freedom seriously," said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. “We are making the appropriate adjustments to ensure our Airmen's rights are protected.”

The Air Force will be updating the instructions for both enlisted and commissioned Airmen to reflect these changes in the coming weeks, but the policy change is effective now. Airmen who choose to omit the words 'So help me God' from enlistment and officer appointment oaths may do so.

Source

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Sensible decision. There was a bit of a controversy regarding this some days ago when someone crossed out the words while signing the oath.

[KUSA]

I am my own God so it wouldn't bother me to say it.

[Minimalist]

Pat Robertson losing his fucking mind about it!

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/09/pat-r...-they-fly/

TV preacher Pat Robertson lashed out at a “Jewish radical” on Thursday who he said was responsible for God being removed from the Air Force oath.

The Air Force announced on Thursday that the words “so help me God” were an optional part of the oath after an atheist airman crossed out the words on his reenlistment paperwork. Military officials had initially refused to accept the paperwork, but Department of Defense General Counsel eventually ruled that the words could be omitted.

Although the American Humanist Association had represented the airman, Robertson on Thursday blamed Military Religious Freedom Foundation President Mikey Weinstein for the movement against religion in the armed services.

Work yourself up into a stroke and die, fuckface.

[FatAndFaithless]

Pat Robertson losing his fucking mind about it!

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/09/pat-r...-they-fly/

TV preacher Pat Robertson lashed out at a “Jewish radical” on Thursday who he said was responsible for God being removed from the Air Force oath.

The Air Force announced on Thursday that the words “so help me God” were an optional part of the oath after an atheist airman crossed out the words on his reenlistment paperwork. Military officials had initially refused to accept the paperwork, but Department of Defense General Counsel eventually ruled that the words could be omitted.

Although the American Humanist Association had represented the airman, Robertson on Thursday blamed Military Religious Freedom Foundation President Mikey Weinstein for the movement against religion in the armed services.

Work yourself up into a stroke and die, fuckface.

My favorite part of that was when he freaks out with "How can they fly?!"


..With physics, Pat..

[The Valkyrie]

Excellent decision.

The cons are freaking already, huh?

[Dolorian]

Someone needs to start a Pat meme with the "How can they fly?" quote like...yesterday.

Poor Pat feeling so terrorized because he can't force his beliefs on the little guy.

[The Valkyrie]

Some one needs to start a Pat meme with the "How can they fly?" quote like...yesterday.

Poor Pat feeling so terrorized because he can't force his beliefs on the little guy.

Perhaps he should go and visit ISIS to get a few lessons.

They'll educate him and let him return, right?

Right?

[Thumpalumpacus]

They never required that to be included in the oath -- at least not when I enlisted in 1989.

[Exian]

a group about people against religion or whatever he calls it

people against religion, or satanic baby rapists, or religious freedom, whatever its called...

So close, P-Robs, so close.

Good on you Air Force.

[ShaMan]

Someone needs to start a Pat meme with the "How can they fly?" quote...