U.S. Air Force Cadets pictured during commencement at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs
Update:
Last Sunday, I wrote a post exposing the U.S. Air Force's uncompromising position on having enlistees sign a pledge ending in "so help me God." You can read the details here.
In this case, it didn't take long for a change to be implemented. Effective immediately, the Air Force will join the Army and the Navy in allowing enlistees to choose to omit the phrase "so help me God".
Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James issued a written statement explaining the Air Force's new position: "The Air Force will be updating the instructions for both enlisted and commissioned Airmen to reflect these changes in the coming weeks, but the policy change is effective now. Airmen who choose to omit the words 'So help me God' from the enlistment and officer appointment oaths may do so." Air Force officials are "making the appropriate adjustments to ensure our Airmen's rights are protected."
And all it took was the prospect of a lawsuit that the Air Force was almost certainly going to find itself losing.
When asked about the young man who wanted to re-enlist and who seems to have been the catalyst that brought about this change, the Air Force said his paperwork "will be processed to completion."
Chalk one up for the proverbial squeaky wheel.
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