Air Force Academy – Religious sensitivity training began Tuesday at the Air Force Academy, an effort focused on teaching respect for all spiritual beliefs.
The academy launched a program called Respecting the Spiritual Values of All People, or RSVP, after a cadet survey in fall 2003 showed 50 percent of cadets had heard religious slurs and jokes. The survey also raised concerns about unwanted proselytizing on the campus and a perception that Christian cadets are favored over non-Christians.
The 4,100 cadets will meet in groups of 35 to 50 so that each of them attends the 50-minute class by June 1. The academy plans for each cadet in the class of 2006 and beyond to receive the training at least twice before graduation.
“The issue is not about religion; it is about respecting everyone’s right to believe as they choose,’ said Capt. Melinda Morton, an academy chaplain. “A lot of our folks come from environments where they aren’t exposed to different kinds of spiritualities, and we want to make sure that as leaders, that they’re well-equipped to go out and lead in a diverse environment.’
About 40 faculty and staff, including Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida, commandant of cadets, attended Tuesday’s session. Weida arrived in June 2003, in the midst of a sexual assault scandal, and issued a commander’s guidance that stressed the importance of responsibility.
He wrote: “Remember, you are accountable first to your God, this great nation, our great Air Force, our Air Force Academy and lastly to your teammates.’
Weida declined to be interviewed Tuesday.
RSVP begins first with educating faculty and staff on Air Force policy and directives that proselytizing and religious jokes and slurs are forbidden.
“Once we’ve gotten that across … then we can say, ‘Now, let’s dialogue,” said Col. Michael Whittington, senior chaplain at the academy. “Let’s have this very healthy discussion, even argue – that’s OK. Let’s go ahead and find out: ‘How can we show respect without believing that somehow I’m condoning what you believe?”
One of the goals of RSVP is to educate people on the importance of bringing concerns forward, not only to leaders, but to one another.
“We in the Air Force have already handled this with gender and race; it’s the religion part that we’re just beginning to get our arms around. It’s not on our radar, and one of the things that we really must do is educate,’ Whittington said. “Twenty-five years ago, when I came into the Air Force, we had all these kinds of racial slurs that people did not intend. And so there was this mass education. And I think you’ll see that (religious sensitivity) in the Air Force worldwide. I think this is going to be a model for it.’
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
