Thursday Afternoon, July 24, 2025

ONE DAY — TWO MRFF VICTORIES!!!

AIR FORCE ACADEMY FINALLY RESPONDS TO 

FOIA REQUESTS AFTER MRFF FILES LAWSUIT;

3-STAR GENERAL FACILITATES INVESTIGATION 

OF CHRISTIANS-ONLY PRAYER AT GRADUATION

VICTORY #1

In October 2022, MRFF submitted three FOIA requests to the

Air Force Academy. For nearly three years, the Academy stonewalled MRFF, with delay after delay and excuse after excuse for not producing the requested documents. So, two weeks ago,

MRFF filed a federal lawsuit against the Academy. Yesterday,

the Academy sent responses to all three requests.

MRFF is currently evaluating the Academy’s responses,

and should we find them to be unsatisfactory,

we’ll just sue them some more.

VICTORY #2

A 3-star Army general responded to MRFF’s Mikey Weinstein regarding a MRFF client’s complaint about the Christians-only prayer at a recent Army Sustainment University graduation,

leading to a commander’s inquiry into the complaint.

Also in this dispatch:

A retired General’s message to

MRFF supporters and military leaders

“The Military Religious Freedom Foundation plays a critical role in the defense of America. It is a first-rate force multiplier for the nation’s military defense, and it is the warfighter’s ally. It is just that important to our combat capabilities. It’s my love of country and its military that compels me to support MRFF’s mission.”

MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein’s

e-mail to Army Lieutenant General Owen Mohan

regarding Christians-only prayer at recent

Army Sustainment University graduation

Monday, July 21, 2025

From: "Michael L Weinstein" <mikeyw4444@icloud.com>

Date: Monday, July 21, 2025 at 8:47:47 AM

To: "Mohan, Christopher Owen LTG USARMY USAMC (USA)" 

Cc: "Erickson, Steven A (Steve) COL USARMY ASU (USA)"

Subject: Concern Regarding Sectarian Prayer at Military Graduation Ceremony

….General Mohan, my name is Mikey Weinstein and I am the Founder and President of a large civil rights organization called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (mrff.org)… 

…...We have received the following official complaint (see below) regarding the graduation ceremony last Friday for the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Lee, Virginia…

….. If validated, the presentation of a blatantly nonsecular invocation that was clearly sectarian for the Christian faith alone when military members, especially graduates, had no choice but to be there in a mandatory environment is blatantly violative of the United States Constitution’s First Amendment separation of church and state, it's construing Federal case law, as well as a number of directives, instructions and regulations at DOD and the Army… a soldier does not need to be a Christian to exhibit the requisite honor, integrity, intrepidity, courage, character, and intelligence to serve the nation and support the Constitution, General…

 ….The Army's own Core Values, all 7 of them, are not served, and, indeed, are viciously violated when an invocation, such as described by our client below, is given in a mandatory environment, which is also necessarily pluralistic, where not everybody subscribes to the Christian faith to the exclusion of all other faith and non-faith traditions…

….. I realize, sir, that you may not yet even be aware that this happened just last Friday morning at Fort Lee, Virginia… Thus, MRFF is requesting that you expeditiously investigate and get back to us as to what you found… my phone number is 505-250-7727…

….. We will anxiously standby for your most timely and substantive response please, General…

 …….Gratefully, Michael L “Mikey” Weinstein, Founder, and President, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, 505-250-7727

From: MRFF Client’s E-Mail Address Withheld

Subject: Concern Regarding Sectarian Prayer at Military Graduation Ceremony

Date: July 18, 2025 at 7:37:30 PM MDT

To: "info@militaryreligiousfreedom.org"

Dear MRFF Team,

I attended a U.S. military Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) graduation on Friday, July 18, 10:00 AM, at Fort Lee, VA, as a guest. During the invocation, an ethicist or chaplain led a Christian prayer that included the phrase “in Jesus’ name we pray" and referenced a bible verse. No secular or alternative religious option was provided during this government-funded event.

While family attendance was optional, I confirmed directly with one of the graduating soldiers that attendance for service members was mandatory. She explained that unless a soldier had a emergency, missing the graduation could be considered AWOL (Absent Without Leave) and subject to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

That means soldiers were compelled under threat of legal penalty to attend a ceremony that opened with a sectarian religious message. This creates a serious Establishment Clause concern, as it effectively required military personnel to sit through a government-sponsored Christian prayer with no opt-out, no neutrality, and no alternatives offered.

Details:

Event: BOLC Graduation

Date & Time: Friday, July 18, 10:00 AM

Location: Fort Lee, VA

Speaker: Ethicist or Chaplain (name unknown)

Content: Prayer ended “in Jesus’ name we pray”; no secular or inclusive option presented

Attendance for soldiers was enforced under threat of UCMJ consequences

I am submitting this complaint because the event lacked religious neutrality and placed soldiers of all backgrounds in a coercive situation that violates the spirit and arguably the letter of the Establishment Clause.

Thank you for your work on these issues. Please let me know if further information is needed.

Sincerely,

(Name and all other ID info of MRFF Client Withheld)

Lieutenant General Mohan’s response to Mikey

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Mr. Weinstein,

Thank you for reaching out. The graduation ceremony you referenced in your email is a Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) event. Your concern has been forwarded to CASCOM, and a member of that command will reach out to you (if they already haven’t). 

Respectfully,

LTG Mohan

From: "Horn, Daniel Lee COL USARMY ASU (USA)"

Date: July 23, 2025 at 12:57:47 PM MDT

To: mikeyw4444@icloud.com

Cc: "Mohan, Christopher Owen LTG USARMY USAMC (USA)", "Donahue, Michelle K MG USARMY SCOE (USA)", "Erickson, Steven A (Steve) COL USARMY ASU (USA)"

Subject: Re: Concern Regarding Sectarian Prayer at Military Graduation Ceremony



Sir, 

Thank you for bringing your client’s concerns to the Army’s attention. I have directed a commander’s inquiry into the complaint.

I offer you my assurance that I will take all necessary steps to ensure that Army Sustainment University remains an environment that is respectful of religious pluralism and free of religious coercion.

Thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of service members

v/r

dh

Daniel L. Horn

COL, LG

Dean of Logistics Leader College

Assistant Commandant, 

Army Sustainment University

E-mail from Mikey thanking Lt. General Mohan

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

From: Michael L Weinstein <mikeyw4444@icloud.com>

Date: July 23, 2025 at 1:21:10 PM MDT

To: Mohan Christopher Owen LTG USARMY USAMC

Subject: Re: Concern Regarding Sectarian Prayer at Military Graduation Ceremony

Thank you, General Mohan… A few minutes ago we heard from Colonel Horn and he has initiated an investigation/inquiry from the cognizant Commander… We are very grateful… Mikey Weinstein… 505-250-7727…

A retired General’s message to

MRFF supporters and military leaders

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

To all supporters of MRFF:

I am a retired general officer, who deeply cares about national defense. It is for that reason that I support the MRFF with my advice and monetary donations. I have a message both for military leaders and their subordinates. 

For many years I have assisted Mikey Weinstein in his highly successful efforts through the MRFF to help service members protect their freedom from religious abuse. You can count on him for assistance to protect you from such abuse. In the process, he’ll protect your identity, and you need not fear retaliation for seeking his assistance. He can be trusted. Call him when you need his help. He will always answer your call. Help will soon follow.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation plays a critical role in the defense of America. It is a first-rate force multiplier for the nation’s military defense, and it is the warfighter’s ally. It is just that important to our combat capabilities. It’s my love of country and its military that compels me to support MRFF’s mission. 

Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and coast guardsmen are dedicated to honing their warfighting lethality. They must not be distracted by commanders, supervisors and co-workers who foolishly attempt to proselytize their faith without invitation to their subordinate brothers and sisters-in-arms. All service members have the Constitutional right of freedom to choose their religious affiliation or choose to be unaffiliated. They have the Constitutional right to be free from religious abuse by their leaders, who mistakenly believe effective leadership requires uninvited conversion of their subordinates to the leader’s religious views and practices.  

The United States military services claim to be the nation’s finest example of a meritocracy, where a military member’s accomplishments, leadership, dedication to service above self, and nothing else, will propel military career success. I believe this to be true. However, our meritocracy is eroded by leaders who choose to suggest, even by unstated inference, that promotion can only be attained by subscribing to the leader’s particular religious beliefs and practices. Our First Amendment freedom of religious practice and freedom from government establishment of religion requires that leaders not fall into this trap and degrade good order and discipline in so doing. If military leaders believe they have a calling to convert others to their faith, it’s time for them to hang up their uniform and follow their calling as a civilian. That is not to say that they should avoid demonstrating honorable actions as a leader, who practices his or her faith by acts of good character, mentorship, and integrity. Your faith in practice, not words, will shine through your actions without verbally proselytizing your faith. Practice your faith every day by actions, and not by sermons, hosting Bible studies for subordinates, inviting subordinates to church services, or encouraging them to convert to your faith. If you do this, others will likely follow out of admiration of your character. By staying in your lane, you will improve good order and discipline, and that is why all of us serve.

More than three decades ago, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. A military commander or supervisor, who attempts to proselytize his or her subordinates, degrades good order and discipline, erodes combat capability, and, as a result, becomes corrosive to the nation’s defense. As a leader, think before you act. Protect your subordinates from religious abuse. Give them the best chance to be all they can be. 

“Thank You for the Quick Response”

From: (MRFF Client’s email address withheld)

Subject: Thank You for the Quick Response

Date: July 22, 2025 at 7:27:54 AM MDT

To: “mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org”

Dear MRFF Team,

I reached out on a late Friday night. By early next Monday morning, you had already responded with clear updates and taken action. That kind of speed is rare and refreshing.

It’s reassuring to know there are people who move with urgency and principle. I appreciate the way you showed up and followed through. Other people who may have concerns should feel safe when they decide to have MRFF advocate on behalf of them. 

Best,

(MRFF Client’s name and all personal ID Information withheld)

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