General Discussion

SeattleVet

(5,903 posts)

76. My Air Force experience was fine.

Mon Apr 22, 2013, 01:22 PM

Apr 2013

Other than in Basic Training (1972), where we were told that there were no Atheists and we all had to attend a religious service (the first week or two - after that we were given the 'option' of attending a service or cleaning to barracks) so I remained a 'Roman Catholic' for the remainder of training.

At my first permanent base I headed for the personnel office and asked for new dogtags. The closest available option at the time was 'No Preference' for religion. They didn't care too much for it when I told them I really *did* have a preference but it wasn't one of their available, approved options, so I opted to declare as 'No Preference' for the next couple of years.

When I was in Germany a few years later I saw a news article about a young Seaman that had successfully gotten 'Atheist' instead of 'No Preference' on his dogtags after a big legal battle. I headed straight to the base personnel office and demanded the same. It took some time and research on their part, but as far as I know I was one of the first in the USAF to have official, approved 'Atheist' dogtags made.

It breaks my heart to see what the Air Force Academy has become with the full religious indoctrination programs.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

77 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

a note to me from a facebook friend. [View all] barbtries Apr 2013 OP

It is no small thing to get someone whose mind is normally closed to think rationally. CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2013 #1

thank you barbtries Apr 2013 #2

How nice! Good for you AND your friend! Send your sister a puppy picture. :-) gateley Apr 2013 #3

thanks gately! barbtries Apr 2013 #8

No!, A cute kitty picture! jonthebru Apr 2013 #48

That's a big deal pinboy3niner Apr 2013 #4

thanks pinboy3niner barbtries Apr 2013 #9

It was my last radio callsign in Vietnam pinboy3niner Apr 2013 #13

okay, barbtries Apr 2013 #18

That's great. proud2BlibKansan Apr 2013 #5

lol barbtries Apr 2013 #10

Your sister is funny, does she post conservative stuff. Heather MC Apr 2013 #6

not much barbtries Apr 2013 #12

Where would we be without a complaint department? Heather MC Apr 2013 #29

Make your sis a Facebook 'group' so she only sees the stuff you post that applies to her ... Myrina Apr 2013 #7

Custom Facebook filters are a gift from the gods to people who like their sanity Posteritatis Apr 2013 #11

no way barbtries Apr 2013 #15

are we long lost siblings? southern_belle Apr 2013 #73

That's creepy! He snuck into your house??? Schema Thing Apr 2013 #14

only through the innertubes barbtries Apr 2013 #16

I've gotten messages like this on my page and sometimes in PM's. Raine1967 Apr 2013 #17

lol thanks barbtries Apr 2013 #20

Oh I hear that! Raine1967 Apr 2013 #22

Raine Col-BERT? pinboy3niner Apr 2013 #25

Oh I wish! Raine1967 Apr 2013 #35

that was my guess! lol barbtries Apr 2013 #42

now i'm guessing barbtries Apr 2013 #33

That's how it works Courtesy Flush Apr 2013 #72

glad it is working for you, bluemarkers Apr 2013 #19

anyone who listens to glenn beck is probably beyond redemption. barbtries Apr 2013 #21

EXCELLENT! I've had a few of those, although privately... OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #23

thank you barbtries Apr 2013 #27

... OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #31

Nice malaise Apr 2013 #24

Good job, I fight the republican misinformation machine on Facebook as well. DrewFlorida Apr 2013 #26

exactly,. barbtries Apr 2013 #34

Wow! shenmue Apr 2013 #28

thanks shenmue! barbtries Apr 2013 #36

I wouldn't think that guy is a real teabagger type. That's the last thing any brewens Apr 2013 #30

time will tell about that. barbtries Apr 2013 #40

My brother is as right wing as they come but I still love him and he loves me. n/t SylviaD Apr 2013 #32

well, yeah. barbtries Apr 2013 #38

We are on the right side of history... ChangeUp106 Apr 2013 #37

yes we are. barbtries Apr 2013 #39

Congratulations on your influence! I bet we all should.. Dan Ken Apr 2013 #41

thank you Dan Ken barbtries Apr 2013 #44

No, YOU are the thoughtful one.. you are living it. Dan Ken Apr 2013 #56

yeah. barbtries Apr 2013 #57

Well done. Every little bit counts. n/t SwissTony Apr 2013 #43

thanks SwissTony! barbtries Apr 2013 #45

You must be doing it right. 11 Bravo Apr 2013 #46

usually all i do barbtries Apr 2013 #47

mindfulness! blue sky at night Apr 2013 #49

thank you blue sky at night barbtries Apr 2013 #51

K&R nt ProudProgressiveNow Apr 2013 #50

Well done! LeftishBrit Apr 2013 #52

thank you LeftishBrit barbtries Apr 2013 #54

keep on keepin' on! hopemountain Apr 2013 #53

there is, barbtries Apr 2013 #55

Baby steps...improving the world one person at a time. good stuff! NRaleighLiberal Apr 2013 #58

thank you! barbtries Apr 2013 #66

Rachel Maddow has praised "small c conservatives" on her show Mopar151 Apr 2013 #59

I just had the opposite experience... SeattleVet Apr 2013 #60

it's interesting barbtries Apr 2013 #64

My Air Force experience was fine. SeattleVet Apr 2013 #76

good on you. barbtries Apr 2013 #77

I realize that you are atheist, but please consider mentioning the fact that LaydeeBug Apr 2013 #74

Well, this is very interesting Iwillnevergiveup Apr 2013 #61

Oh, it is truly awesome when someone flips. Great Job! LaydeeBug Apr 2013 #62

Yeah I have had some people on my Facebook list get tired of politics davidpdx Apr 2013 #63

i just hide the posts and keep on posting what i believe in. barbtries Apr 2013 #65

The problem is I'm not the type to hold my tongue davidpdx Apr 2013 #67

no thanks barbtries Apr 2013 #68

One mind at a time. Nice work! Scuba Apr 2013 #69

thanks Scuba! barbtries Apr 2013 #70

good job NewJeffCT Apr 2013 #71

Thank you for planting seeds duhneece Apr 2013 #75