Monday Afternoon, March 3, 2025 | |
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COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE COVERS USAFA’S DENIAL OF ACCOMMODATION
FOR MUSLIM CADETS DURING RAMADAN
AFTER MRFF DECRIES ACADEMY’S DECISION
As MRFF reported last week, the U.S. Air Force Academy has once again displayed its blatant disregard for non-Christian cadets, scheduling its CULEX (culminating exercise), an extremely physically demanding multi-day training exercise, during Ramadan, forcing Muslim cadets to either choose between their religion and training or risk their health and safety by attempting to complete the training while fasting from both food and water.
As one Muslim Air Force Academy Cadet wrote to MRFF:
“The conflict with Ramadan is substantial. As fasting cadets, we
would be required to engage in hours of intense physical activity without food or water throughout the day, placing us at increased risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and decreased cognitive function. Furthermore, the limited rest periods during CULEX make it nearly impossible to maintain proper nutrition and hydration in the small windows between sunset and sunrise, further compounding the health risks. This creates an unfair and hazardous situation for Muslim cadets who wish to observe their religious duties
while also fulfilling their training responsibilities.
“What makes this situation more concerning is that our chaplain has advised the Muslim cadet community at USAFA to forgo fasting during Ramadan, as upper leadership has reportedly
refused to grant any excusal from the physical portions of CULEX. This effectively forces Muslim cadets into a position where they must choose between their deeply held religious beliefs and
meeting military training requirements. ...”
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Front page of The Colorado Springs Gazette for Monday, March 3, with Air Force Academy's denial of religious accommodation for Muslim cadets as top story | |
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THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE
COVERS MRFF
Air Force Academy’s Muslim cadets denied accommodation during Ramadan
By: Mary Shinn
Monday, March 3, 2025
Article excerpt (emphasis added by MRFF):
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation raised concerns about the academy’s decision, with Colorado Springs advisory board member Marty France, a former Air Force brigadier general, publishing an open letter to the vice superintendent.
France pointed out in his letter that service members can request religious accommodations under military policy and a reasonable compromise is possible in this case, but it was not pursued.
“There was no negotiation, no discussion of other alternatives — just a directive to forgo your religious commitment and get over it. I don’t think anyone in Colorado Springs thinks that a similarly stark, black-and-white choice would be the only option if the conflict involved Christian cadets. I don’t,” he said.
In the past, the academy has changed some of its positions after hearing from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
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NOTE: You will only be able to access this article one time.
If you try to access it again, you may encounter a paywall.
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Initial e-mail to MRFF from a
Muslim U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet
Monday, February 24, 2025
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“Request For Religious Accommodation
Guidance – CULEX During Ramadan”
From: (Muslim U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet/MRFF Client’s e-mail address withheld)
Subject: Request For Religious Accommodation Guidance – CULEX During Ramadan
Date: February 24, 2025 at 11:19:13 AM MST
To: “mikeyw4444@icloud.com” <mikeyw4444@icloud.com>
Dear Military Religious Freedom Foundation,
First I would like to inform you that your personal email was given to me by Cadet (USAFA cadet’s name withheld). Also, I would like to request anonymity to avoid reprisal.
I hope this email finds you well. I am a Cadet at the United States Air Force Academy. I am reaching out for guidance regarding a religious accommodation concern and would like to remain anonymous in any potential advocacy or correspondence regarding this matter.
Muslims are religiously obligated to fast from dawn to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan, refraining from both food and drink during daylight hours. This spiritual practice is a fundamental pillar of Islam, requiring discipline, self-restraint, and devotion. However, I have been informed that I will not be excused from the physically demanding components of the Spring CULEX, a four-day culminating training event, despite the clear conflict it poses with my ability to safely observe my religious obligations.
According to OPORD 25-005, the Spring CULEX is a comprehensive field training exercise designed to assess cadets’ ability to perform in austere environments under high-stress conditions. The event incorporates a combination of Ready Airman Training, tactical movements, prolonged physical exertion, sleep deprivation, and strenuous outdoor activities. These physically and mentally demanding components, often performed in unpredictable weather conditions, require cadets to maintain peak endurance, hydration, and nutrition to avoid injury and sustain operational effectiveness.
The conflict with Ramadan is substantial. As fasting cadets, we would be required to engage in hours of intense physical activity without food or water throughout the day, placing us at increased risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and decreased cognitive function. Furthermore, the limited rest periods during CULEX make it nearly impossible to maintain proper nutrition and hydration in the small windows between sunset and sunrise, further compounding the health risks. This creates an unfair and hazardous situation for Muslim cadets who wish to observe their religious duties while also fulfilling their training responsibilities.
What makes this situation more concerning is that our chaplain has advised the Muslim cadet community at USAFA to forgo fasting during Ramadan, as upper leadership has reportedly refused to grant any excusal from the physical portions of CULEX. This effectively forces Muslim cadets into a position where they must choose between their deeply held religious beliefs and meeting military training requirements. Given that the military has established policies on religious accommodations, this denial raises concerns about whether Muslim cadets are being treated equitably regarding their faith-based needs.
I would like to better understand my rights regarding religious accommodations and explore possible courses of action. If MRFF can provide any guidance or advocacy in addressing this issue, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you for your time and for the work you do to uphold religious freedom in the military. I look forward to your response.
V/r,
(Muslim USAFA Cadet’s name withheld)
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MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein’s
statement on the Air Force Academy’s latest display
of clear disregard towards non-Christian Cadets
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
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“Yet once again, my alma mater, the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) vividly and incontrovertibly displays that its approved solution for all matters of Air Force operations, derivative of theology or otherwise, is always and foremost fundamentalist Christianity.
“The ugly truth of USAFA’s long-entrenched, shameful, Christian Nationalist extremism, triumphalism, exceptionalism and domination continues to be impossible to ignore and MRFF will never stop fighting it tooth and nail whenever it rears its unconstitutionally repulsive head.”
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E-mail from MRFF Advisory Board Member,
USAF Brig. General (ret.), and Professor Emeritus,
US Air Force Academy, Marty France to Academy
Vice Superintendent Maj. General Thomas Sherman
Monday, February 24, 2025
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From: Martin France
Date: February 24, 2025 at 7:56:24 PM MST
To: “Sherman, Thomas P Maj Gen USAF USAFA HQ/CV”
Cc: <mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org>
Subject: CULEX and Ramadan
Tom,
Disappointingly, I need to bring to your attention another blatantly biased “own goal” scored by the USAFA staff in preparation and scheduling for Spring CULEX--a comprehensive field training exercise designed to assess cadets’ ability to perform in austere environments under high-stress conditions. As you know, the event (evolved over the years from what old grads like me called “Hell Week” or “Recognition”) privation, and strenuous outdoor activities. These physically and mentally demanding components, often performed in unpredictable weather conditions, require cadets to maintain peak endurance, hydration, and nutrition to avoid injury and sustain operational effectiveness. [This is directly from the OPORD for the event.]
This year, the event occurs during Ramadan—something that poses a significant challenge for your many Muslim cadets who would be required to engage in hours of intense physical activity without food or water throughout the day. Obviously, this would place them at increased risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and decreased cognitive function. Furthermore, the limited rest periods during CULEX make it nearly impossible to maintain proper nutrition and hydration in the small windows between sunset and sunrise, further compounding the health risks. This creates an unfair and hazardous situation for Muslim cadets who wish to observe their religious duties while also fulfilling their training responsibilities.
This effectively forces Muslim cadets into a position where they must choose between their deeply held religious beliefs and meeting military training requirements. Given that the military has established policies on religious accommodations, this denial raises concerns about whether Muslim cadets are being treated equitably regarding their faith-based needs. In past years, this and other training events have also coincided with Passover and Yom Kippur, causing similar conflicts for Jewish cadets that had to be addressed by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. I'm unaware of any past conflicts with Easter or Christian holidays, however.
Having spent over 17 years on the USAF Academy staff in positions from instructor through department head and engineering division chair, I know that the Academy has, in the past, published at the beginning of every academic year, a calendar of religious holidays covering virtually every religious holiday and event for religions practiced by members of the cadet wing. That CULEX occurs during Ramadan is not a surprise to anyone—or it shouldn't be. You and the Superintendent may not know when Ramadan occurs, but it's a vital event for many of your cadets.
A large number of your cadets are concerned about this situation—concerned enough to reach out to the MRFF for support. They are also worried that, because they are faithful to a minority religion at an institution with a long history of overt evangelical Christian bias going back decades—a fact that led to the formation of the MRFF 20 years ago in 2005—any complaint will lead to reprisals, either formally or informally. We've spoken with others at the Academy about this situation—cadets, faculty, and staff—that aren't Muslim, but are aware of the situation and equally concerned.
This was after they approached their chaplain who advised the Muslim cadet community at USAFA to forgo fasting during Ramadan, as upper leadership has reportedly refused to grant any excusal from the physical portions of CULEX. This effectively forces Muslim cadets into a position where they must choose between their deeply held religious beliefs and meeting military training requirements. There was no negotiation, no discussion of other alternatives—just a directive to forgo your religious commitment and get over it. I don't think anyone in Colorado Springs thinks that a similarly stark, black-and-white choice would be the only option if the conflict involved Christian cadets. I don't.
Obviously, given that the military has established policies on religious accommodations in DAFI 52-201, Religious Freedom in the Department of the Air Force, this denial raises concerns about whether Muslim cadets are being treated equitably regarding their faith-based needs. Some reasonable accommodations are possible in this case. But, we understand the situation (as communicated by cadets) was a fait accompli: you must participate and if you don't want to pass out or hurt yourself, then you MUST ignore one of your religion's oldest and most important traditions.
Speaking with cadets, I know that they are disturbed and disappointed that they were not consulted on this, nor represented well by their chaplain. I also know that these cadets are committed to the USAFA mission and would like to participate as fully as possible in CULEX while still having the option of observing the Ramadan Fast. As I understand CULEX today, there are several aspects of the training that are not so physically demanding. Perhaps an accommodation for some Muslim cadets could be channeling them into some less physical sessions of CULEX or properly phasing their participation to minimize physical risk. Just entertaining these possibilities would've demonstrated the simple respect these cadets deserve. I cite here from DAFI 52-201:
2.5. Requests for accommodation from a military policy, practice, or duty that does not substantially burden a military member’s exercise of religion (e.g., beliefs of conscience or moral principle) should not be evaluated under the compelling government interest standard. Under these circumstances, the needs of the requesting member are balanced against the needs of mission accomplishment. Only if it is determined that the needs of mission accomplishment outweigh the needs of the Service member may the request be denied.
We at the MRFF believe that the Academy's training program, including CULEX, is a critical factor in every cadet's development as a leader of character. We also believe that all cadets need to understand their rights as enumerated in Air Force Instructions. The leadership of the Academy, in turn, has an obligation to educate the cadets on how large, diverse organizations operate effectively while appropriately providing religious accommodations when warranted. This is a teachable moment lost, in my opinion.
In retrospect, I think you'll agree that, when it was determined many, many months (or years) ago that CULEX and Ramadan would overlap, USAFA leadership should've engaged directly with the affected cadets—not only through their chaplain, but individually or in small groups to better understand their needs and the difficult conflict they faced. I'm assured by my sources that, had this been the case, the cadets would probably not have felt the need to contact the MRFF and me. They would've felt included, respected, and part of a larger team that spans many religious and non-religious perspectives, all focused on achieving an admirable mission.
But that didn't happen. Their needs were not considered. They were marginalized and made to feel inferior to other cadets with other beliefs.
These are challenging times—especially so for anyone in the military that is not a white, Christian male like the Secretary of Defense. Executive orders quashing individual expression and removing recognition for our many diverse heroes and leaders exacerbate the angst many cadets and other members of the military are facing. To mistreat this group of cadets so badly in these already fraught times is needless and callous. I know, as a USAFA graduate who served 41 years in uniform, that we can do better and hope you can help solve this situation and ensure that no similar “own goals” occurs in the future.
Sincerely,
Marty
Martin E.B. France, Phd
Brigadier General, USAF (Retired)
Professor Emeritus, US Air Force Academy
Military Religious Freedom Foundation Advisory Board Member
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Thank you e-mails to MRFF from
Muslim Air Force Academy Cadets
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“Thank You For Your Advocacy and Support”
From: (Muslim U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet/MRFF Client’s e-mail address withheld)
Date: March 3, 2025 at 11:17:11 AM MST
To: Michael L Weinstein <mikeyw4444@icloud.com>
Subject: Thank You For Your Advocacy and Support
Dear Michael Weinstein and Military Religious Freedom Foundation,
I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your support and advocacy on behalf of Muslim cadets at the Air Force Academy. Your efforts have made a real difference, not only for me but for all of us who felt the weight of having to choose between our faith and our training obligations.
Yourself and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) gave us hope when we felt our voices were not being heard. Thanks to your intervention, USAFA leadership took important steps to address some of our concerns. They requested a headcount of Muslim cadets within the Cadet Wing and made updates to the CULEX OPORD to allow time for us to leave the training area and perform our evening prayers. This accommodation means a lot—it shows that our religious practices are valued and respected.
It is encouraging to know that organizations like MRFF exist to fight for fairness and religious freedom for all service members. The fact that MRFF does this work purely out of commitment to justice and equality is truly inspiring. You have shown us that there is hope and that we are not alone. Your actions reinforced the importance of standing up for what is right, and I hope that by sharing my story, others will feel empowered to reach out if they face similar challenges. Knowing that there are people like you ready to fight for us is a comfort that I cannot express fully in words. Thank you again for your dedication, compassion, and relentless pursuit of fairness.
Best,
Muslim Cadet, United States Air Force Academy
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“Thank You Note from Muslim
US Air Force Academy Cadet”
From: (Muslim U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet/MRFF Client’s e-mail address withheld)
Date: February 24, 2025 at 3:07:38 PM MST
To: Michael L Weinstein <mikeyw4444@icloud.com>
Cc: Information Weinstein <mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org>
Subject: Thank You Note from Muslim US Air Force Academy Cadet
Dear Mr. Weinstein and Military Religious Freedom Foundation,
Thank you for your prompt response and for the work the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) does in protecting the religious rights of all military personnel—including enlisted members, officers, cadets, midshipmen, Coast Guard Academy cadets, and those in ROTC. This clearly emphasizes you concern for justice. MRFF’s dedication to ensuring religious freedom within the armed forces is critical in holding leadership accountable and preventing systemic discrimination within the military. By advocating for service members of all faiths, MRFF helps maintain the constitutional rights and dignity of those who serve, regardless of rank, branch, or commissioning source.
As a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, I am deeply concerned about USAFA’s refusal to accommodate Muslim cadets during CULEX, which directly conflicts with our religious obligation to fast during Ramadan. Our chaplain has advised us not to fast because leadership has refused to grant accommodations, effectively coercing us into violating a core pillar of our faith. Additionally, USAFA has failed to explore alternative accommodations—such as modified physical requirements or adjusted schedules—despite Air Force policies requiring religious accommodations unless a compelling reason exists. The Muslim community at USAFA is disappointed by this decision, which sends the message that our religious practices are an afterthought rather than a fundamental right. At an institution that prides itself on leadership and integrity, this failure to uphold religious freedom is troubling.
I appreciate MRFF’s commitment to holding military leadership accountable and ensuring that all service members are treated fairly, regardless of faith. MRFF’s history of holding military leadership accountable, challenging religious discrimination, and ensuring that service members of all faiths are treated with dignity and respect gives me hope that this issue can be addressed. Your organization has consistently fought for the constitutional rights of military personnel, ensuring that no one is forced to compromise their faith due to institutional neglect or bias. I appreciate the advocacy and support from yourself and MRFF.
Thank You,
Cadet, USAFA
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THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME!
Flashback to 2022:
Air Force Academy schedules key training day
on Yom Kippur, forcing Jewish cadets to
choose between their religion and training
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In 2022, the ever-religious-diversity-challenged Air Force Academy scheduled its “Commandant’s Challenge” on October 5, perfectly timed to fall right smack on Yom Kippur, the most solemn of all Jewish holy days, forcing Jewish cadets to choose between their religion and joining their much-preferred Christian counterparts in the semester’s most important training day.
Two days after the event, MRFF received an email from the parent of one Jewish cadet who was not only forced to make the agonizing decision to miss Yom Kippur services, but was told by a senior cadet in her chain of command that the issue was her “being Jewish,” suggesting that she at least “make an effort to try Christianity,” inviting her to a Bible study, and telling her that she wouldn’t be “converting away from Judaism” but rather that “Christianity is just enlightened Judaism.” In the words of her parent, this cadet was “humiliated beyond description” and was “was more despondent than we’d ever heard her before.”
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For a two-decade history of MRFF’s numerous battles against outrageous Christian proselytizing and Christian nationalism at the Air Force Academy, visit: | |
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Read more about MRFF’s efforts on behalf of
U.S. Military members of the Muslim faith:
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