The Air Force Academy recently held a new more rigorous “cumulative exercise” which is “an essential training event designed to enhance cadets’ warfighter readiness and leadership skills.” You can read more about this here.
The Academy said,
“This multi-day field training event evaluated all cadets’ proficiency in newly developed Ready Airman Training (RAT) skills, reinforcing their preparedness for Agile Combat Employment.
The Spring 2025 CULEX tested cadets’ adaptability, leadership, and mission execution capabilities in physically and mentally demanding scenarios.
These challenges included day and night operations spread across four rotations, simulating the complexity of real-world military engagements.”
However, it now appears that Muslim cadets were allowed to opt-out of the physical part of the exercise due to their religious holiday Ramadan.
Hope there are no wars during religious holidays or that the enemy will be nice enough to accommodate holidays. However, the Israelis found that out the hard way in 1973. American soldiers under Gen. George Washington in a Christmas surprise attack ensured we’re not a British colony.
Air Force Academy Reverses Decision, Allows Muslim Cadets to Forgo Physical Training During Ramadan (By Mary Shinn | Colorado Springs Gazette)
The Air Force Academy allowed Muslim cadets to forgo physical training during Ramadan, after denying an earlier request.
The school required Muslim cadets to ask their squadron commanders for permission to skip physical activity during a culminating spring exercise when they would be fasting during the day, a Muslim cadet said. He was not aware of any Muslims cadets who had their request to skip the physical portion of training denied.
The cadet asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. About 50 Muslim cadets attend the academy, including those attending the prep school.
The Muslim cadets were also allowed to attend Iftar, each night to break their holy fast and pray, said the cadet. The training was required for all cadets and replaced an exercise previously focused on freshmen.
Cadets planned and carried out missions and led their squadrons on road marches to Jack’s Valley and the surrounding areas, a news release said. They were also challenged by cold weather.
The Muslim cadet expected to practice land navigation skills, casualty care and demonstrate knowledge about the laws of war. Those participating in Ramadan were happy to participate in other aspects of the exercise, outside of the physical portion.
“Initially, USAFA failed to provide any remedy, leaving Muslim cadets feeling forced to choose between their faith and their training. Only after external pressure did leadership reactively allow exemptions from physical training and provide transportation for evening meals—steps that should have been taken proactively. Future cadets should not have to fight the same battle,” the cadet said, in an email.
It was the first time in recent years Muslim cadets were denied requests to help them during the holy month of fasting. The month follows the lunar calendar and ends on March 29 this year.
The academy changed its position on allowing cadets to skip the physical portion of the training on March 3, a few days before the training started on March 5, after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation raised concerns about the issue. The academy did not tell The Gazette about its decision.
The school also did not address the Muslim cadets’ requests for exemptions from physical activity in an official statement in response to Gazette questions about the change. But highlighted how the school allowed cadets to take part in religious activities during the training.
The statement noted Muslim cadets were allowed to break their fast each night and attend evening prayers and attend prayer services on Friday while in Jack’s Valley.
On Wednesday, the school held Ash Wednesday services for Catholic cadets and staff. The academy’s rabbi also held two Shabbat services for Jewish cadets.
“The U.S. Air Force Academy recognizes the importance of the holy days of all faiths,” the statement said.
The military is required by law to accommodate religious activities when possible. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act prohibits the government from “substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion” without a compelling government reason.
The president and founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, Michael “Mikey” Weinstein, said the academy has treated cadets as an afterthought and made them feel like “80th-class citizens” through the process.
“These kids deserved better,” said Weinstein, noting as a graduate he is ashamed of the institution.
A Muslim cadet noted in a email sent through the foundation that the initial concerns arose because the Muslim chaplain recommended that the cadets forgo fasting during training and, if they chose to fast, they would have to deal with the consequences on their own.
“Many cadets felt uncomfortable speaking up to their leaders, fearing potential repercussions. This situation was further compounded by the sense that the Muslim chaplain did not effectively advocate for our needs from the outset,” the email said.
The statement said that ignoring the cadets’ concerns until they raised the issue outside the school made the cadets feel isolated.
“A proactive approach, including open communication and early planning, could have alleviated much of our anxiety and uncertainty,” the email said.
Academy officials plan to join Muslim cadets for a meal before the end of Ramadan, an annual tradition, the academy said in its written response.
Highly ironic considering the Military Religious Freedom Foundation does everything it can to put down and remove any hint of Christian activity. This is also the same organization that has caused so much problems in the military that Congress put in the NDAA that Defense officials and troops are barred from communicating with this organization or from making “any decision as a result of any claim, objection, or protest made by MRFF without the authority of the Secretary of Defense.”
Yom Kippur War (Wikipedia)
The war started on 6 October 1973, when the Arab coalition launched a surprise attack across their respective frontiers during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, which coincided with the 10th day of Ramadan…..
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