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AF to change instructions for oaths

Submitted by: Mr Jimmy Pop @ 06:24 PM | Sunday, September 21, 2014 | (url: http://www.af.mil...)

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- 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.

The language in previous instructions was based on an Air Force legal interpretation of 10 U.S.C. 502, 5 U.S.C. 3331 and Title 32, which contain the oaths of office.

The Air Force requested the review following a ceremony at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, in which an enlisted Airman struck out the words, So help me God on the Department of Defense Form 4 and did not include them in his verbal oath. The Airman's unit was unable to process his paperwork due to the guidance in Air Force Instruction 36-2606, Reenlistment in the United States Air Force, which prohibited any omissions. Now that the Department of Defense General Counsel has provided an opinion, the Airmans enlistment paperwork will be processed to completion.

Category: General | 10 Comments
Tags: god

09-21-14 - 06:25 PM
we must eliminate the jewish oppressors
09-21-14 - 06:26 PM
praise allah
09-21-14 - 06:27 PM
Originally posted by Mr Jimmy Pop  
an enlisted Airman struck out the words, So help me God on the Department of Defense Form 4 and did not include them in his verbal oath.


Good for him
09-21-14 - 09:01 PM
Blasphemy. I'm horrified at the prospect of atheists defending my freedom.
09-22-14 - 04:46 AM
They just recently allowed Airmen to officially declare their religious beliefs as Asatru or Heathen via the vMPF not too long ago. Great changes for the military, now hopefully the Army and Navy follow suit shortly.
09-22-14 - 01:29 PM
:lol: Heathen is an officially-recognized religion now. That's awesome.

Mine was always NRP - No Religious Preference (or NO PREF).
09-22-14 - 03:31 PM
All the armed forces need to allow recruits to swear to Odin, like proper warriors.
09-22-14 - 03:39 PM
[youtube]mraO8JZbSkg[/youtube]

I'm always looking for a good opportunity to post this.
09-22-14 - 04:14 PM
It is also my opinion that Carthage must be destroyed, so help me Odin.
09-25-14 - 07:11 AM
Thank GOD they're removing that godforsaken shit. Praise Jesus.
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