[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by natehale1971

Don't worry SGT, this is the rest of the story...

First I am not after you. However I am going tear this piece a new one.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

Army says troops wrongly punished for skipping concert
A staff sergeant erred when he banished dozens of soldiers to their barracks and ordered them to clean up after they refused to attend a Christian concert on a Virginia Army base last year, an investigation concluded.

Took a year to cover their asses and re-assign the guilty, and probably assign some of the wrongfully punished (vocal too) to assignments to appease them.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

By STEVE SZKOTAK
The Associated Press
Related
RICHMOND, Va. — A staff sergeant erred when he banished dozens of soldiers to their barracks and ordered them to clean up after they refused to attend a Christian concert on a Virginia Army base last year, an investigation concluded.

Right. A Staff Sergeant. No one E-7 and above in a trainee unit was aware. …………….. Really.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

When the Army learned the soldiers were punished, the company commander apologized to them the next day, according to the investigation's findings, released Tuesday to The Associated Press.

Ooooooooo sorry about those Civil Rights, ya kinda like those Freedoms you been protecting , but not like the Army says. An Apology. That’s a start, not a completion.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

The actions of the staff sergeant, who was not named, were referred back to his battalion commander for nonjudicial action, according to Col. Daniel Williams, a spokesman for the Army's Document and Training Command. He said any punishment, if it occurred, would be kept confidential.

BAM! Your damn skippy it went onto the Battalion Commander. It is not a Trial! There will be no Witnesses, NO Examination, No Cross Examination, and No Jury. The Guilty never even set foot in Court.
Total and Complete SHAM.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

The sergeant's actions in May 2010 at Fort Eustis in Newport News, Va., were not consistent with the voluntary nature of the concerts, Williams said.
"The command did not find sufficient evidence to indicate there was any malicious intent and therefore deferred any discipline down to the battalion command," Williams said.

Bullshit. The CoC was involved, if you don’t find Jesus, you won’t find promotion. That Staff Sergeant had many layers between him and the Company Commander. Let alone the CO probably want to “Show more participation, in front of the CG.”

Originally Posted by natehale1971

Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which first reported complaints by the soldiers, described the investigation's conclusion as typical for the military.
"Blame some lower-ranking enlisted guy who didn't know any better," he said. "That is just a completely inappropriate and disgraceful statement."

Consistent with my experience.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

Weinstein called the Christian concerts "an absolute attempt to establish fundamental Christianity in the military."

I am just surprised it has been allowed to come out of the background. Little tidbits like the ACOG scandal make you realize how broad it is.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

Williams described them as "nondenominational with no particular religious affiliation."

Why am I funding this! This is tax payer money, and Army budget! That damn money should have been spent on training ammo, better Leadership schools, more vehicles, better Single Soldier housing, buying Training land in areas similar to where wars are fought now.
I am seething. So angry I am having a hard time typing.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

Two soldiers who were punished told the AP they felt pressured to attend a performance by the Christian rock group BarlowGirl, as part of what was billed as the "Commanding General's Spiritual Fitness Concerts."

I am sure that it was hinted at by all Levels of their Command. Make the CG happy, get your ticket punched.
Mandatory fun day has become mandatory Jesus camp day.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

The soldiers said the staff sergeant told 200 men in their barracks they could either attend or remain confined there. They were told to not use their cellphones or personal computers and to clean up their living area.
The investigation did not dispute the soldiers' statements.

Uh, huh. You can tailor your questions to get a specific range of answers. It is something you learn so you don’t make a mistake, however it is a tool if one is being disingenuous.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

Williams said the concerts, which continue to be staged, are strictly voluntary, as they had been in May 2010.

Why are they continuing! Why! The US Army is not a spiritual force. There are Chaplains and Chapels to serve for those that desire it, however the US Army is not Gods Army. This flies completely in the face of the Anti-Establishment Clause . Being Cheeky by naming is a spiritual anything, when it is clearly Evangelical and intended to be from the start.

Originally Posted by natehale1971

The sergeant, Williams said, "marched a unit over to the Spiritual Fitness Concert thinking he was doing the right thing. He found out a very short time after that, no, that was not the right thing to do. He was corrected."
About 20, including several Muslims, refused to attend based on religious beliefs, the solder said.
Since then, the Army has reinforced the volunteer nature of the concerts through e-mails and training, Williams said.

Punishments were likely suspended (can’t remember what it is called) and he was shuffled around for a bit. Then he will be rewarded for being a good ol boy. I expect he will retire as an E-8 if he keeps out of the Papers.