Equality In The Military Essay
Now, more than ever, the importance of religious freedoms has risen to an unprecedented level of awareness, being at the forefront of society’s concerns. Among these concerns is the implementation of balance and equality in the today’s military, as it grows to accommodate quickly arising changes and as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community increase. The chief concern of this integration is the challenge of not infringing on the values of existing religious groups, most notably, the Christian people. Being a Christian in the military has already presented challenges for those in the past, including Major General Oliver Otis Howard, United States Army, in the 1800s, Lt. Cmdr. Wesley Modder, United States Navy,
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recently in 2015, and even more modernly – myself, currently serving as an active-duty member of the Navy. Christian troops in the 1800s
Much like in the days of Oliver Otis Howard, being a Christian in the today’s armed forces is an endeavor filled with fear of reprisal, social exclusion, and bias theory. Throughout his stint on active-duty, O.O. Howard was (and still is) known as the “Christian Soldier” and later, the “Christian General” (David Thomson, 2009). He came to be known as these by both his soldiers and his colleagues, which generated negative ripple effects on his career, bringing along with it the stigma of not being able to perform his duties due to the “Just War” theory, which prompted Christians to fight reactively rather than preemptively, and ultimately, brought about scrutiny as to if he was even morally eligible to participate in war, having the potential to be put in a situation which he would be able to take a life, or lead soldiers to do so (p.
1). In 1828, a “Mr. Winslow” colorfully expressed that “the spirit of war is in direct and reconcilable hostility to that of Christianity. It demolishes what Christ builds up, and builds up what Christ demolishes” (p. 3). This “Mr. Winslow”, effectively analyzes the relationship between the nature of war and what Otis Howard faced on multiple occasions, though conversely, this statement goes against a separate proclamation that “Christian courage alone raises one above the fear of death, and inspires the manhood that makes a soldier truly brave” (p. 41). It was not until Howard’s discovery of Hedley Vicars, a young officer that converted to Christ after perusing a Bible he found in associate’s room, that he went on to boldly exhibit his belief in Christ (p. 9). This new-found faith prompted him to write a speech entitled, “The Christian Soldier”, at his next duty station, West Point Military Academy (p. 10). This was the beginning of his influence on
peers and subordinates, which commended positive affiliations with his nickname. His trust in God led him to thrust himself into battle without flinching, which inspired some of his troops, while others thought him to be “careless of exposing his person in battle, to an extent that would be attributable to the rashness of fatalism if it were not known to spring from religion” (p. 13). Despite his venerable bravery, men such as Williams Shanks still considered him “energetic and perverting in his administration as a commander, and generally successful in his efforts, his reputation in the Army was more that of the Christian gentleman than of the great soldier” (p. 13). Out of all he did, General Howard’s religious conviction, the same that granted him the unwavering devotion to his duties as a soldier, inhibited him from being perceived as much more than a soft, piteous believer. Spiritual Assistance
Military chaplains, established in 1775, are symbolic in that they serve as official religious leaders in the armed forces community. These individuals are responsible for the spiritual rejuvenation of the members of their respective faiths. They are also to ensure that commanding officers allow for the free exercise of religion of all members of the unit. As morale is a key influence on such an enduring workload bore by troops, chaplains are essential and welcomed to all those that believe. Although this implementation may seem to unite the military with religious beliefs, it does not elude it of the truth in that it is indeed a conflict of interest; Lieutenant Commander Wesley Modder can attest to this. In February of 2015, a Christian chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Modder, was removed from his position at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) Goose Creek, South Carolina, after allegedly speaking out against homosexuality and sex outside of wedlock, amongst other things, in private counseling sessions (Tilghman, 2015, para. 8). This coincidentally, is exactly what the Navy entails him to do, both, as a member of his faith and per the missions of the Chaplain corps (Secretary of the Navy, 2008, p. 6, para. (c)). Furthermore, the official slogan of the U.S. Navy’s chaplain corps was “Cooperation Without Compromise”, which is hypocritical given the repercussive actions administered in response to these accusations. The perception of these actions sends a message to the public and to the fleet that demonstrates an act of betrayal in that religious intolerance is very much alive and present in today’s military. Still the Bible plainly instructs Christians how to live in the book of Colossians:
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Colossions 3:5-10, The Holy Bible, King James Version).
This letter by Paul the Apostle as a chastisement and edification for the Colossian people to align themselves with the standards of Christ (for to be “Christian” is to be “Christ-like”). It also goes on to say, in the book of Leviticus, “If a man also lies with mankind, as he lieth with a with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13). For God to have commanded this not only to be written, but also to state that it is “an abomination” and that those whom commit this transgression to be worthy of death, that speaks volumes to how significant this offense is to those who consider themselves to be “Christian”. These scriptures are exactly what Lt. Cmdr. Modder is enforcing as one who considers himself to be “of-Christ”. Ultimately, he was exculpated from these allegations in September that same year, though the influence of such a matter would still almost certainly guarantee that he would not go on to receive a promotion recommendation for the next rank and, at a minimum, presents a loss of confidence in him by the troops in which he’s elected to guide spiritually and professionally. For these reasons and probably more, Lt. Cmdr. Modder no longer serves in the U.S. military and having elected to retire. It could indeed be linked to the following scripture, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)” All in all, true Christians or those that live by every word of the Bible, know that encouragement does not always come in a way that pats you on the back or makes you smile even though at times it can. Sometimes it comes in a way in which it encourages you to reconcile your sins or disobedience to God, which is for your spiritual enhancement. As a Christian and a member of the United States Navy, I also have some concerns of my own. Insight from Today’s “Christian Soldier”
Christian values of integrity, fidelity, honesty, commitment, abstinence, fortitude, longsuffering, compassion, meekness, humility, obedience, and honor not only leads one to be what one may consider a good person, but its ethics also direct us to live a more virtuous life than that of those that do not believe, on a daily and consistent basis. Workwise, these should prove to be moral characteristics that any employer would desire in its staff members, and quite valuable as members of society. Regarding the job specifically, the Bible tells us to “be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ”, providing yet another strong moral guideline to be humble, obedient, and zealous in that it brings honor to Christ (Ephesians 6:5). Regarding military chaplains, not all of them are as strong in the faith or as serious, are they should be given the limited staffing of them compared to the volume of sailors and marines they are made accessible by. Some, in fact, go against the values of the community: the Christian chaplain in my unit, being a female, went on to marry a female last year, which is against what God stands for, and being that she is the only chaplain in the command of over 2300 staff members, does not provide good merit for a Christian troop at any level of faith and is both a shame and an insult for the Navy to provide such a contrary individual to uphold the religious traditions and practices of that of the Christian faith (Colossians 3:5-10). This in essence, detracts from unit morale, which, if low enough, factors in to decrease retention of members of the faith. However, rather than relieving such a leader, the Navy removes the more devoted, such as Lt. Cdr. Modder, because they elect to stand on their faith. Hurdles
Another important issue is habitability changes, precisely aboard seaboard vessels. Current configurations of ships outfit berthings to include sleeping, showering, sink, and waste spaces to be shared separately by two groups - males and females. The addition of LGBT members would cause for dynamic changes as for how to incorporate these new sexual orientations. Believing the basis of these separations to be for carnal reasons, my concern would be that members of the same orientation being intermingled with those of different orientations. If a heterosexual man shares a showering area with a homosexual man, his level of discomfort may be comparable to that of a heterosexual female to that of homosexual female, because this may grant unwanted exposure of the former and arousal by the later. The same could be said of this situation between a transgender and a heterosexual person. Because one’s orientation could change rather spontaneously, this could be grounds for frequent habitability concerns. Just as it would not be wise to have co-ed living spaces between heterosexual males and females in any unit, it would be wise consider the living arrangements of this new community and also how this would affect the comfort level (and adversely, the stress level) of the troops. Along with this, it is common to drink alcohol in port visits, often in excess, against that the Navy’s policy of “Responsible use”. As we know, alcohol encourages errors in judgement and errors in judgement increases the potential for sexual assault. “Approximately one-half of those cases involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, victim, or both” (Antonia Abbey, Tina Zawacki, Philip Buck, Monique Clinton, and Pam McAusian, n.d.). This would almost certainly cause an increase in the number of sexual assaults, reported and unreported. If the living spaces of all current and future Navy sea vessels are modified to furthermore divide living spaces, this could easily add millions of dollars to an already strict defense budget. What Happens Next?
Being that we have now analyzed different accounts of the military service through the years, from the 1800s to today, we now have insight on the steps to take going forward. If the military does not get this right, it would be in danger of lowering both the retention and the recruitment of members of both groups. Unit cohesion is absolutely necessary for us to be able to accomplish the tasks at hand. Although it is impossible to completely remove the barriers that may exist between the two, it is an endeavor that certainly requires caution and strong respect in its implementation. Through non-disclosure surveys and open-focus groups, participants would be able to voice their beliefs and make suggestions as to how to work and live peaceably together.
recently in 2015, and even more modernly – myself, currently serving as an active-duty member of the Navy. Christian troops in the 1800s
Much like in the days of Oliver Otis Howard, being a Christian in the today’s armed forces is an endeavor filled with fear of reprisal, social exclusion, and bias theory. Throughout his stint on active-duty, O.O. Howard was (and still is) known as the “Christian Soldier” and later, the “Christian General” (David Thomson, 2009). He came to be known as these by both his soldiers and his colleagues, which generated negative ripple effects on his career, bringing along with it the stigma of not being able to perform his duties due to the “Just War” theory, which prompted Christians to fight reactively rather than preemptively, and ultimately, brought about scrutiny as to if he was even morally eligible to participate in war, having the potential to be put in a situation which he would be able to take a life, or lead soldiers to do so (p.
1). In 1828, a “Mr. Winslow” colorfully expressed that “the spirit of war is in direct and reconcilable hostility to that of Christianity. It demolishes what Christ builds up, and builds up what Christ demolishes” (p. 3). This “Mr. Winslow”, effectively analyzes the relationship between the nature of war and what Otis Howard faced on multiple occasions, though conversely, this statement goes against a separate proclamation that “Christian courage alone raises one above the fear of death, and inspires the manhood that makes a soldier truly brave” (p. 41). It was not until Howard’s discovery of Hedley Vicars, a young officer that converted to Christ after perusing a Bible he found in associate’s room, that he went on to boldly exhibit his belief in Christ (p. 9). This new-found faith prompted him to write a speech entitled, “The Christian Soldier”, at his next duty station, West Point Military Academy (p. 10). This was the beginning of his influence on
peers and subordinates, which commended positive affiliations with his nickname. His trust in God led him to thrust himself into battle without flinching, which inspired some of his troops, while others thought him to be “careless of exposing his person in battle, to an extent that would be attributable to the rashness of fatalism if it were not known to spring from religion” (p. 13). Despite his venerable bravery, men such as Williams Shanks still considered him “energetic and perverting in his administration as a commander, and generally successful in his efforts, his reputation in the Army was more that of the Christian gentleman than of the great soldier” (p. 13). Out of all he did, General Howard’s religious conviction, the same that granted him the unwavering devotion to his duties as a soldier, inhibited him from being perceived as much more than a soft, piteous believer. Spiritual Assistance
Military chaplains, established in 1775, are symbolic in that they serve as official religious leaders in the armed forces community. These individuals are responsible for the spiritual rejuvenation of the members of their respective faiths. They are also to ensure that commanding officers allow for the free exercise of religion of all members of the unit. As morale is a key influence on such an enduring workload bore by troops, chaplains are essential and welcomed to all those that believe. Although this implementation may seem to unite the military with religious beliefs, it does not elude it of the truth in that it is indeed a conflict of interest; Lieutenant Commander Wesley Modder can attest to this. In February of 2015, a Christian chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Modder, was removed from his position at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) Goose Creek, South Carolina, after allegedly speaking out against homosexuality and sex outside of wedlock, amongst other things, in private counseling sessions (Tilghman, 2015, para. 8). This coincidentally, is exactly what the Navy entails him to do, both, as a member of his faith and per the missions of the Chaplain corps (Secretary of the Navy, 2008, p. 6, para. (c)). Furthermore, the official slogan of the U.S. Navy’s chaplain corps was “Cooperation Without Compromise”, which is hypocritical given the repercussive actions administered in response to these accusations. The perception of these actions sends a message to the public and to the fleet that demonstrates an act of betrayal in that religious intolerance is very much alive and present in today’s military. Still the Bible plainly instructs Christians how to live in the book of Colossians:
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Colossions 3:5-10, The Holy Bible, King James Version).
This letter by Paul the Apostle as a chastisement and edification for the Colossian people to align themselves with the standards of Christ (for to be “Christian” is to be “Christ-like”). It also goes on to say, in the book of Leviticus, “If a man also lies with mankind, as he lieth with a with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13). For God to have commanded this not only to be written, but also to state that it is “an abomination” and that those whom commit this transgression to be worthy of death, that speaks volumes to how significant this offense is to those who consider themselves to be “Christian”. These scriptures are exactly what Lt. Cmdr. Modder is enforcing as one who considers himself to be “of-Christ”. Ultimately, he was exculpated from these allegations in September that same year, though the influence of such a matter would still almost certainly guarantee that he would not go on to receive a promotion recommendation for the next rank and, at a minimum, presents a loss of confidence in him by the troops in which he’s elected to guide spiritually and professionally. For these reasons and probably more, Lt. Cmdr. Modder no longer serves in the U.S. military and having elected to retire. It could indeed be linked to the following scripture, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)” All in all, true Christians or those that live by every word of the Bible, know that encouragement does not always come in a way that pats you on the back or makes you smile even though at times it can. Sometimes it comes in a way in which it encourages you to reconcile your sins or disobedience to God, which is for your spiritual enhancement. As a Christian and a member of the United States Navy, I also have some concerns of my own. Insight from Today’s “Christian Soldier”
Christian values of integrity, fidelity, honesty, commitment, abstinence, fortitude, longsuffering, compassion, meekness, humility, obedience, and honor not only leads one to be what one may consider a good person, but its ethics also direct us to live a more virtuous life than that of those that do not believe, on a daily and consistent basis. Workwise, these should prove to be moral characteristics that any employer would desire in its staff members, and quite valuable as members of society. Regarding the job specifically, the Bible tells us to “be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ”, providing yet another strong moral guideline to be humble, obedient, and zealous in that it brings honor to Christ (Ephesians 6:5). Regarding military chaplains, not all of them are as strong in the faith or as serious, are they should be given the limited staffing of them compared to the volume of sailors and marines they are made accessible by. Some, in fact, go against the values of the community: the Christian chaplain in my unit, being a female, went on to marry a female last year, which is against what God stands for, and being that she is the only chaplain in the command of over 2300 staff members, does not provide good merit for a Christian troop at any level of faith and is both a shame and an insult for the Navy to provide such a contrary individual to uphold the religious traditions and practices of that of the Christian faith (Colossians 3:5-10). This in essence, detracts from unit morale, which, if low enough, factors in to decrease retention of members of the faith. However, rather than relieving such a leader, the Navy removes the more devoted, such as Lt. Cdr. Modder, because they elect to stand on their faith. Hurdles
Another important issue is habitability changes, precisely aboard seaboard vessels. Current configurations of ships outfit berthings to include sleeping, showering, sink, and waste spaces to be shared separately by two groups - males and females. The addition of LGBT members would cause for dynamic changes as for how to incorporate these new sexual orientations. Believing the basis of these separations to be for carnal reasons, my concern would be that members of the same orientation being intermingled with those of different orientations. If a heterosexual man shares a showering area with a homosexual man, his level of discomfort may be comparable to that of a heterosexual female to that of homosexual female, because this may grant unwanted exposure of the former and arousal by the later. The same could be said of this situation between a transgender and a heterosexual person. Because one’s orientation could change rather spontaneously, this could be grounds for frequent habitability concerns. Just as it would not be wise to have co-ed living spaces between heterosexual males and females in any unit, it would be wise consider the living arrangements of this new community and also how this would affect the comfort level (and adversely, the stress level) of the troops. Along with this, it is common to drink alcohol in port visits, often in excess, against that the Navy’s policy of “Responsible use”. As we know, alcohol encourages errors in judgement and errors in judgement increases the potential for sexual assault. “Approximately one-half of those cases involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, victim, or both” (Antonia Abbey, Tina Zawacki, Philip Buck, Monique Clinton, and Pam McAusian, n.d.). This would almost certainly cause an increase in the number of sexual assaults, reported and unreported. If the living spaces of all current and future Navy sea vessels are modified to furthermore divide living spaces, this could easily add millions of dollars to an already strict defense budget. What Happens Next?
Being that we have now analyzed different accounts of the military service through the years, from the 1800s to today, we now have insight on the steps to take going forward. If the military does not get this right, it would be in danger of lowering both the retention and the recruitment of members of both groups. Unit cohesion is absolutely necessary for us to be able to accomplish the tasks at hand. Although it is impossible to completely remove the barriers that may exist between the two, it is an endeavor that certainly requires caution and strong respect in its implementation. Through non-disclosure surveys and open-focus groups, participants would be able to voice their beliefs and make suggestions as to how to work and live peaceably together.