Vol. 45 No. 18 May 6, 2005 Inside COMMENTARY: Air Force’s religious respect history, Page 2 NEWS: Outstanding Academy educators, Page 3 Cadet rocket launch, Page 5 Tuskegee Airmen honored, Page 6 FEATURE: Aeronautics takes on C-130, Page 8 Medical group in Ecuador, Page 10 SPORTS: Men’s tennis results, Page 11 Ultimate frisbee, Page 11 Cycling, volleyball, Page 12 NEWS FEATURE: Music soothes, Page 13 Medical mission Maj. (Dr.) Dayton Kobayashi performs a physical exam on a pediatric patient while deployed to Ecuador for a medical Briefly readiness training exercise April 2-15. See complete coverage, Page 10. Academy Spring Clean-Up Air Force task force to assess religious climate May 20-22 all 10th Air Base Wing, Dean of the By Air Force Public Affairs Using feedback from that team, focus Separation of Church and State are being Faculty, 34th Training Wing, groups and others, the Academy leadership, taken very seriously by the Air Force. This Preparatory School, Tenants, WASHINGTON — Acting Secretary of with assistance from the Air Force chief of newly appointed task force will assess the reli- Facility Managers and Military the Air Force, the Honorable Michael L. chaplains, instituted a new training program gious climate and adequacy of Air Force Family Housing occupants and Dominguez, on Tuesday directed the Air for all Academy cadets, staff and faculty efforts to address the issue at the Academy. personnel will participate in Force Deputy Chief of Staff and Personnel, called Respecting the Spiritual Values of all Specifically, the task force is directed to clean-up efforts at the Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady, to immediately People. The mandatory small-group RSVP assess: entrances to the base, along stand up a cross-functional task force on the seminars, each facilitated by a chaplain, a the perimeter fences, and on religious climate here at the United States Air lawyer and a commander, address the diver- a. Air Force and Academy policy and roads, sidewalks, and build- Force Academy. sity of the Air Force and the need for each guidance on the subject of religious respect ings. The primary considera- The task force will assess items ranging person to respect others, regardless of their and tolerance. tion in base cleanup is the from Air Force policy and guidance on the beliefs or faith. b. The appropriateness of relevant training timely and effective removal of subject of religious respect and tolerance, to To augment the ongoing effort, General for the cadet wing, faculty and staff trash and debris from the the practices of the Academy’s chain of Rosa also reached out to the civilian sector, c. The religious climate and assessment Academy prior to graduation. command that either enhance or detract from including organizations such as the Yale tools used at the Academy Organizations are encouraged a climate that respects both the “free exer- Divinity School. In addition, he is looking d. The effectiveness of Academy mech- to conduct clean-up activities cise of religion” and the “establishment at incorporating character development anisms to address complaints on this subject, throughout the week. clauses” of the First Amendment. recommendations from the Josephson to include the chain of command, the Considerable efforts have been made Institute of Ethics and considering offers of VP to speak at during the past several months at the support from the Anti-Defamation League. Academy's inspector general and the mili- graduation Academy to address issues of religious toler- Members of the Board of Visitors (to tary equal opportunity office Vice President Richard ance and respect. include former Governor James S. Gilmore e. The practices of the chain of command, Cheney will be the guest After discovering perceptions of reli- III, Senators Wayne Allard and Larry Craig, faculty, staff or cadet wing that either enhance speaker for this year’s grad- gious bias during surveys in 2004, Lt. Gen. and Representatives Joel Hefley and Carolyn or detract from a climate that respects both uation ceremony. John W. Rosa Jr., Academy Superintendent, Kilpatrick) recently attended an RSVP session the “free exercise of religion” and the “estab- This will be Vice implemented a proactive plan to address to observe and assess its quality firsthand. lishment” clauses of the First Amendment President Cheney’s second this issue with the support of Air Force According to Mr. Dominguez, “This program f. The relevance of the religious climate visit to the Air Force Academy senior leadership and the Air Force Academy encourages people to confidently and authen- at the Academy to the entire Air Force in this role. He last spoke at Board of Visitors. tically live out their own faith and belief The task force's report will provide find- the U.S. Air Force Academy A team from Air Force headquarters, commitments and deeply respect others ings and may include specific recommen- during the graduation of the led by Ms. Shirley A. Martinez, deputy assis- whose spiritual strength comes from a faith Class of 2001. tant secretary for equal opportunity, with or source different from their own. Such dations. The task force will refer any evidence Graduation for the outside help from Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, mutual respect is essential to the culture of of specific misconduct to the appropriate Academy’s Class of 2005 is a former U.S. Navy chaplain, was dispatched the Airmen.” authority. A preliminary assessment is due June 1, starting at 10 a.m. in to provide an initial assessment and advice However, lingering allegations from to the Acting Secretary of the Air Force by Falcon Stadium. to Academy leadership in December 2004. sources such as Americans United for May 23. Academy Spirit 2 COMMENTARY May 6, 2005 Air Force has rich heritage of religious respect By Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles C. Baldwin Jewish Airmen. It was a moment neither group will the practice of their faith. Through the years, I have Air Force Chaplain Service ever forget. This is the culture of the Airman. heard of individuals who do not understand or appre- Chaplains come from many faith communities. ciate this basic principle of who we are. When one WASHINGTON (AFPN) — On Sept. 23, 2001, We are as diverse as the Air Force. How is it possible fails to respect the individual rights of others, he or 25,000 people gathered at Yankee Stadium for “A that we work together when our beliefs are so she acts contrary to the cultural and constitutional Prayer for America,” honoring those who lost their different? We rally around three great watchwords. framework in America which protects our religious lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Jewish, Roman These words, inscribed on our Chaplain Service seal, freedoms. Lack of respect and tolerance for the rights Catholic, Muslim, Hindu, Protestant, Sikh and Greek unite us and give focus to our service. They are of others to believe as they so choose hurts each of us Orthodox clergy offered prayers. The prayer service freedom, faith and ministry. What a calling is ours! and jeopardizes good order, discipline, unit cohesion was described as representing the best in America and Faithfully representing our faith communities, we and our ability to accomplish the missions with which unprecedented in its interfaith spirit. One commentator cooperate without compromise. And the reason we do our nation entrusts us. There is no place in our Air even called the diverse gathering of religious expres- this? It’s for the Airmen! We are here to ensure their Force for disrespectful names, slurs and jokes that sions a miracle. It was a profound and beautiful right to the free exercise of religion. That’s the make someone feel alienated from the team. response to the hatred and intolerance of the terrorists. “freedom” and “faith” part of the seal. “Ministry” We didn’t just recently begin to value religious Such “miracles” take place at Air Force chapels captures our commitment to care for the needs of the freedom and individual rights. This is a central part of throughout the world every day. A spirit of unity and Airmen everywhere they serve. our rich American heritage. It has been re-enforced cooperation is seen, not only in the sharing of sacred There are several documents on religious freedom through the years with countless acts of courage and space by many faith communities, but also in the love that are important to military members. They are sacrifice both large and small. One of the most and respect we show for one another. For me, one of Department of Defense Directive 1300.17, memorable examples of this American character the absolute joys of being an Air Force chaplain is this Accommodation of Religious Practices Within the happened Feb. 3, 1943, aboard the U.S. Army privilege of serving such a diverse community. The Military Services, and Air Force Instruction 36-2706 Transport Dorchester. An enemy torpedo hit the ship. Air Force Chaplain Service is devoted to serving the Chapter 8, Accommodation of Religious Practices for Four chaplains (two Protestant ministers, a Jewish religious needs of all Airmen and their families. We the Air Force. These documents affirm that the free rabbi and a Catholic priest) gave up their life are committed to serving the one who is different with exercise of religion is a basic principle of our nation. preservers, and any chance of survival, so that others the same passion as the one from our own faith group. They make it policy for commanders to approve could live. The four chaplains died together while This is something that is a wonder to the world! Yet, it accommodation of religious practices when accom- they clung to each other and prayed.