Air Force Last to Rule ‘So Help Me God’ Clause Optional

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The Air Force, notorious for its religious underpinnings and its anti-Obama propagandizing, says it will now allow men and women taking a service oath to omit the words “so help me God” since an airman in Nevada was recently refused re-enlistment after striking out the words on his paperwork. “We take any instance in which Airmen report concerns regarding religious freedom seriously,” Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said in a statement yesterday. They added that the Nevada airman’s paperwork “will be processed to completion.”

air force

The Washington Post reports that Air Force rules for the oath of enlistment and officer appointment used to allow people to refrain from using the phrase “so help me God” for personal reasons, but that this exception “quietly disappeared” in October 2013. “There has always been a respect for those who are not theists in our country,” the head of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty tells Fox News. “We want those airmen who believe in God to be able to say these words and we respect the right of those who abstain.” The honor oath reads: “We will not lie, steal, or cheat nor tolerate among us anyone who does. Furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and live honorably, so help me God.” The Air Force Times notes that the Navy, Army, and Marine Corps already allow “so help me God” to be omitted.

Thanks to Newser for story contributions.

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Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.
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9 years ago

Personally, should I ever have the misfortune to have to go into war and fight (unlikely at 57 I grant you) I would prefer tanks myself. At least that way I could join in the battle sitting down. A far more comfortable way to get blown to hell in my view 😉

Timmy Mahoney
9 years ago

People join the AF over the other services because they are more likely to avoid combat.

9 years ago

There is, of course, the small matter that one must swear an oath on the Bible when testifying in court…

Robert Ertman
Reply to  Professor Mike
9 years ago

In fact every jurisdiction in the U.S. allows an affirmation (which makes no reference to a deity) rather than an oath.

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