Despite a recent trend to make our military institutions politically correct, the truth is they cannot successfully focus on the individual. Individual needs, wants, desires, and complaints take a back seat to the mission of the group. The two plaintiffs and the ACLU fail to grasp that religion, for many, is an integral part of a military life. The cadets do not understand what so many of their peers do. The structure it provides can be as vital to success as a weapon.
Military service can be harsh, dangerous, unrewarding, and downright boring.
But we require our officers to lead Americans from a variety of backgrounds who worship in a number of different venues-or not at all. Whether the troops are Catholic, Jew, Buddhist, Wiccan, or agnostic is irrelevant. The effective leader cannot take immature offense to the mere presence of religion. To effectively lead in the military, one must recognize that respect and tolerance for religious values is vital to protecting religious freedom. Because beyond the gates of VMI lies an America protected by selfless individuals who well recognize that dynamic.