Air Force: ‘So help me God’ in oath is optional
Air Force officials say they’re changing their policy on enlistment oaths and will allow airmen to omit the words “so help me God” if they choose.
The decision comes after an airman at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada struck out the words on his Department of Defense re-enlistment paperwork and ran up against a policy that prohibits omissions.
The case went up to the Department of Defense General Counsel, which issued an opinion Wednesday saying the language could be left out if the airman preferred.
Attorney Monica Miller of the American Humanist Association is representing the airman, who she says has requested anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Miller says the airman was told by his commanders Aug. 25 that he must swear to God or leave the Air Force.
Retired Lt. Col. Gerry Varner said he will never forget the day he took his oath.
“Two emotions. The sense of patriotism and I love this country so those feelings are paramount, but immediate and as strong as those feelings were, is I believe I am a christian and I believe that this country lives under the blessings of the aLMighty,” said Varner.
He said he still lives by the words “so help me God.” He said those words should not be optional.
“I think it’s a major mistake that the military recognize that we do our duty, that we defend the constitution of the United States because we have belief in the almighty and I think it’s a sad thing to take that away,” said Varner.
Retired seaman Joseph Peterson feels the same.
“They took God out of the pledge of allegiance. Where do they stop?” said Peterson.
Mikey Weinstein with Military Religious Freedom Foundation said the Air Force has made the right decision, but it took too long.
“It’s a great day. Lady Liberty is smiling but the Air Force doesn’t get a gold star because their actions were shameful and despicable,” said Weinstein.
He said it violated the Constitution that airmen were forced to say “so help me God” previously.
“It’s completely unconstitutional to presume it is necessary and sufficient to judge an airman based on their religious faith,” said Weinstein.
The Secretary of the Air Force said this is the right step to protect airmen’s rights.
